PROTESTORS last night delivered "damning evidence" of the environmental threat posed by the US "ghost fleet" bound for the North-East.

Friends of the Earth said documents obtained from the US Marine Adminstration (Marad) showed three of the 13 vessels were classified as having the highest risk of leaks from their hulls.

One of the ships, due to be dismantled by Hartlepool firm Able UK - the 1945-built Donner, had already leaked and created an oil slick in the James River, Virginia, where the fleet is moored.

A report by the Office of the Inspector General in the US said: "These vessels are literally rotting and disintegrating as they await disposal.

"Some vessels have deteriorated to a point where a hammer can penetrate their hulls. They contain hazardous substances such as asbestos and solid and liquid polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)."

Last night, the environmental pressure group said it had written to the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) with "damning evidence of the risks posed to wildlife and tourism".

The group again urged that the ships be refused entry until a full environmental impact assessment has been carried out and a dry dock for their storage has been approved and built.

It came as Hartelpool Borough Council once again put off making a decision on whether or not to order the assessment prior to granting permission for a dry dock.

The council said: "We are continuing to look in detail at all the issues surrounding the planning application which we have received from Able UK for the cofferdam and also whether or not we require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and what the scope of such an EIA would need to be."

An Environment Agency study showed the ships contain 1,241 tonnes of asbestos.

A total of 3,810 tonnes of industrial waste - items such as rubber seals, possibly containing PCBs, gaskets and electrical cables - will also be disposed of as landfill.

While more than 85 per cent of the fleet is to be recycled, some components will be treated or incinerated.

Yesterday, Hartlepool MP Peter Mandleson said that he had been assured by the Health and Safety Executive that strict conditions were being followed in the disposal of the fleet and, because of this, he did not object to its arrival.

He said: "I am determined to reduce unemployment and attract jobs but, at the same time, the safety of Hartlepool workers is my priority, as is the environment of our town."

In a statement, Able UK said: "All we can do is reiterate that the vessels have been thoroughly and properly inspected by the US authorities and our insurers, Lloyds of London, who have reported that they are perfectly safe and seaworthy."