U.K. agency voids permission to dismantle MarAd vessels

U.K. agency voids permission to dismantle MarAd vessels    The United Kingdom's Environment Agency has said that prior authorizations to allow the dismantling and recovery in Hartlepool, U.K., of retired U.S. Maritime Administration vessels are invalid.
   The authorizations related to transfrontier shipments of waste for recovery, and a modification of a waste management license issued to Able U.K., recipient of the vessels, to increase the amount of waste materials permitted at Able’s facility in Hartlepool.
   “It has become clear that several permissions and plans are not in place and that dry dock working cannot be enforced,” the Environmental Agency said in a statement.
   Furthermore, the agency’s legal counsel said Able’s existing license could not be modified. A new license will be required with new waste quantity limits in place.
   In a response, MarAd said although it “was aware of issues raised … by the U.K. Environmental Agency,” the four vessels intended for Able U.K. “will continue to transit the Atlantic.”
   MarAd also said it had “sought and received official approvals from the U.K. Environmental Agency, the U.K. Maritime Coastguard Agency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Without these official approvals, these ships would not have departed their James River moorings,” MarAd explained.
   As MarAd works “toward a resolution of these issues,” it “remains committed to … all of its public and private sector partners in the U.S. and the U.K. to ensure the safe and responsible recycling of retired ships belonging to the James River Reserve Fleet,” MarAd said in a statement.