HC Deb 13 February 2004 vol 418 c150W
Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answers of 14 January 2004,Official Report, column 739W, on Tees Estuary, whether ballast water has been removed or disposed of from the ships (a) in accordance with a detailed method statement and (b) without such a statement. [152749]

Mr. Morley

No ballast water has yet been removed or disposed of from the ships. No removal is permitted until the Environment Agency has approved a method statement. Able UK has not yet submitted a method statement to the Agency for its approval

Mrs. Spelman

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to instruct that the four ghost ships moored in Hartlepool be returned to America. [151641]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 29 January 2004]: The US authorities accept that the four ships will have to return to the US, unless environmentally suitable and legally acceptable methods for their disposal have been identified. The immediate return of the vessels is not practicable.