Able Welcomes Launch Of Ship Recycling Initiative

Able UK, one of the largest ship scrapping firms in the world, welcomed a decision by the European Union to have all scrapping done by specialist European yards.

Peter Stephenson, Able UK’s managing director, said the EU decision, “Is a genuine example of a sensible ‘green’ approach to what is a major worldwide environmental issue.”

Stephenson noted that the new initiative contrasted sharply with what he described as “the blatant scare mongering we have seen from some organizations and individuals who have opposed our contract with MARAD, claiming to be protecting the environment but in reality more interested in jumping on the publicity bandwagon.”

A significant amount of controversy surrounded the announcement recently that Able UK was chosen by the U.S. Maritime Administration to scrap and recycle a number of obsolete vessels from the James River fleet.

 “I believe that today’s launch demonstrates that there is growing realization that we need a genuine green approach to the issue of ship recycling rather than antics, led by Friends of Earth, which have generated so much disinformation and unnecessary alarm. “