A selection of images from the arrival of the second 'Ghost Ship' Canisteo on the Tees on 13th November 2003, followed by some views of the Caloosahatchee and the Canisteo in the Able UK dock at Graythorp, Hartlepool on 15th November. Finally there are some shots of all four ships (Caloosahatchee, Canisteo, Canopus and Compass Island) taken on 13th December 2003 in brighter conditions.
This was a major news story on Teesside. Able UK of Graythorp (nextdoor to Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station) has won a contract to safely decommission and recycle 13 retired US Navy ships built during WW2 and previously moored on the James River, Virginia. However, the UK Environment Agency has withdrawn Able's licence to scrap the ships. The first ship, the Caloosahatchee arrived on November 12th and these picures here are of the second ship, the former USS Canisteo AO 99, a 10,700 tonne refuelling tanker, which arrived on November 13th.
The third ship the Canopus arrived on November 27th and the fourth ship the Compass Island was due to arrive the following day but was delayed until 3rd December. Able UK need to apply for a waste disposal licence and hope to begin dismantling the four ships by spring 2004, this could lead to the creation of 200 jobs.
For the latest news go to our local newspaper's site, the Evening Gazette's icTeesside 'Ghost Ships' page.
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This page last updated 13th December 2003.
