THE former French naval carrier the Clemenceau finally left France this morning en-route for Hartlepool after a last ditch bid by environmentalists to delay its departure failed.
Yesterday a court in France rejected an application for an injunction by environmental groups who wanted the ship and her 700 tonnes of asbestos contaminated material disposed of on French soil.
A british tug began the process of towing the 32,000 tonne vessel from its home port of Brest, on the North-West coast of France, to Able UK's shipyard at Graythorp.
Able said the work to dismantle the ship would be the biggest such project ever seen in Europe with work due to begin after Easter, creating 200 jobs.
The firm had been waiting for a clear weather window before the Clemenceau - also known as the Q790 - could depart. Its journey is expected to take at least four days.
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