And excellent news for Swan Hunter!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/4998468.stm

Troubled yard is handed lifeline

A troubled Tyneside shipyard has been handed a lifeline after being
granted permission to dismantle ships.
Bosses at Swan Hunter welcomed the decision, which came after bosses
warned jobs were at risk because of a lack of work at its Wallsend
yard.

On Friday the Environment Agency said it would allow the firm to
dismantle ships as well as oil and gas platforms.

Swan Hunter still hopes to secure part of a huge Ministry of Defence
aircraft carrier order.

'Proper measures'

The company plans to use a floating dry dock to tow ships into the
yard which would then be sealed to prevent any potentially
contaminated materials escaping.

Environment Agency manager Graham Donachie said: "As part of our
process to determine this application the company has had to carry out
a full assessment of any possible impact its process could have on the
environment and human health.

"Proper measures need to be put in place to prevent any environmental
harm and Swan Hunter has provided us with the technical information to
show us that this can be done.

"We will be visiting the yard on a regular basis to ensure it is
meeting the conditions set down in the modified waste management
licence."

The company's licence allows it to handle permitted wastes up to
120,000 tonnes a year.



--
Paul (Wake up the dawn and ask her why)
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Stop and Look
http://www.geocities.com/dreamst8me/
.