THE boss of the company at the centre of a ship recycling controversy last night told of the "unswerving and heartening" support he has received in the past 12 months.

On the anniversary of the arrival of the so-called Ghost Ships in the North-East, businessman Peter Stephenson spoke of his ambition to make Teesside a world-class centre for the marine dismantling industry.

His comments came just a day after an influential Parliamentary Committee said that the UK "has the potential to establish an industry in ship dismantling, which can be done safely and offer economic benefits to the communities in which it is carried out".

Four former US navy vessels are moored at the Able UK yard, on the outskirts of Hartlepool, while a wrangle over planning permission and a recycling licence is resolved.

Mr Stephenson is confident a solution will be found and a further nine ships from the James River Reserve Fleet, which make up an £11m contract he struck with the US authorities, will be sent to Teesside.

It is also believed that vessels, which might have been destined for breaking up on beaches in developing countries, could be recycled at the Able yard.

The arrival of the first four ships from Virginia, last November, sparked protests from environmentalists and residents, who feared their toxic cargoes would pose a danger to wildlife and the environment.

But Mr Stephenson last night described their fears as "cynical manipulation on a massive scale".

He said: "What we now see is clear recognition at both national and European level that there is a desperate need for the kind of facility we have developed here, to deal with the ever-growing environmental challenge of how redundant vessels can be dismantled and recycled in the safest and greenest way possible.

"Only last month, a report commissioned by the European Union underlined the urgency of the situation, especially in the light of plans to phase out huge numbers of single-hulled oil tankers, and the need to end the system which sees the vast majority of vessels from the rich countries torn apart in appalling conditions on the beaches of Asia."

Read more about the Ghost Ships campaign here.