Dismantling ships

Swan Hunter has submitted an application to the UK Environment Agency for a licence modification to allow it to dismantle ships at its yard in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear.

The company's proposed method of working involves a floating dry dock which will be used to tow ships into the yard before being sealed to prevent any potentially contaminated materials escaping.

The company already has an existing waste management licence to dismantle oil and gas rigs at the site. The Environment Agency is treating the new application as a modification to that licence.

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

"They will have to satisfy us that proper measures can be put in place to prevent any environmental harm before we can make any modification to the licence."