Investigation after second fire at ‘ghost ships’ yard (From The Northern Echo)

Investigation after second fire at ‘ghost ships’ yard

3:44pm Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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AN investigation is under way after a second blaze broke out in as many months at the site of the controversial “ghost ships”.

A patch of oil measuring about 30sq metres caught fire on one of the smaller vessels being dismantled by Able UK, at Seal Sands, near Hartlepool.

The incident happened just after it was revealed that a major fire last month on board the former naval vessel the Clemenceau was started by accident.

Eight fire engines attended the scene shortly after 2pm yesterday. The fire took about three hours to burn itself out.

No one was injured.

A fire brigade spokesman said: “It is not as serious as the last fire. It was contained in a small hold in one of the ships which is being broken up. It is too early to say what has caused the fire.”

An investigation into the fire on the Clemenceau on Friday, February 5, found that it had been caused by operator error.

By Dani Webb dani.webb@nne.co.uk Plumes of smoke were seen billowing from the former French naval vessel, which had to be evacuated.

Able UK said measures had been put in place to avoid the same thing happening again on the ship, which is also known as the Q790.

Environmental campaigners battled to prevent the ship from being dismantled in the region because of asbestos and other toxins on board.

The vessel had been denied entry into several countries, but the UK Health and Safety Executive granted Able an exemption to the asbestos regulations permit.

A spokesman for Able UK said: “The investigation into the fire on board the Q790, which has involved the appropriate agencies, has established that the fire was caused by an operator error during a cutting process when combustible materials were present.

Following the incident, we have introduced additional measures to avoid the risk of any similar incidents.”

Dismantling of the ship will not be completed until June because of the discovery of previously unidentified asbestos on girders.

Last night Able UK issued the following statement: “A small fire broke out this afternoon in the keel area of the former American National Reserve Fleet vessel the Caloosahatchee which is undergoing dismantling in the dry dock at Able Seaton Port.

“The blaze was quickly brought under control. There were no environmental dangers and no injuries. Investigations are continuing, but it is understood that the fire involved a small quantity of oil.

Work at the site continues as normal.”