THE first ships from a condemned US "ghost fleet" could finally be cleared later today to sail for the North-East.

Hartlepool firm Able UK, which is dismantling the fleet, said last night there had been delays, but said it was confident of receiving the necessary clearance.

Earlier, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said it was awaiting further information, including the route the ships were to take, contingency plans should anything go wrong and a risk assessment before the ships would be allowed entry to British waters.

Last night, Peter Stephenson, managing director of Able UK, said this would be provided to the MCA later today.

"Talks are ongoing with the US coastguard who are likely to wait until the last minute before granting their approval but we are confident that all the issues will be addressed and that sailing will take place at the weekend," he said. "There have been some delays because of hurricane activity but this too is being addressed."

A spokeswoman for the MCA said: "The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will take its decision based on the considerations of UK interests, and that is why we want everything in place, to be reassured this operation is being carried out as safely as possible."

Two vessels, Caloosahatchee and Canisteo, which are moored in the James River, Virginia, will arrive first.

They will be tugged across the Atlantic to the Teesside Environmental Reclamation and Recycling Centre at Graythorp. They are expected to take three weeks.

Environmentalists have pledged to try to halt their arrival, fearing they may break up during the journey, creating an oil slick, and release chemicals such as lead and asbestos contained within their structures.

Hartlepool Borough Council is expected to announce in the next few days whether it requires an environmental impact assessment to be carried out into the proposals to create a temporary dam at Graythorp in order to house the vessels.

Mike Childs, of Friends of the Earth, said: "This is not a foregone conclusion and we are following every move being made.

"There are a few hurdles to be cleared yet."