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Crews tackle fire on 'ghost ship' | Crews tackle fire on 'ghost ship' |
(41 minutes later) | |
Up to 50 firefighters are tackling a blaze on a so-called "ghost ship" being dismantled at a yard on Teesside. | Up to 50 firefighters are tackling a blaze on a so-called "ghost ship" being dismantled at a yard on Teesside. |
The fire is on the former French aircraft carrier Clemenceau, which arrived at the Able UK facility near Hartlepool a year ago. | The fire is on the former French aircraft carrier Clemenceau, which arrived at the Able UK facility near Hartlepool a year ago. |
There are no reported injuries and the fire was not thought to be toxic. | |
Emergency services, including police, ambulance and a rescue boat, are at the scene. Cleveland Police said approach roads to the yard had been closed. | Emergency services, including police, ambulance and a rescue boat, are at the scene. Cleveland Police said approach roads to the yard had been closed. |
A spokesman for Cleveland Fire Brigade, which has 10 appliances at the scene, said the blaze was contained within three compartments of the vessel. | A spokesman for Cleveland Fire Brigade, which has 10 appliances at the scene, said the blaze was contained within three compartments of the vessel. |
The Clemenceau was turned away by India and Egypt as being too toxic to be broken up. | The Clemenceau was turned away by India and Egypt as being too toxic to be broken up. |
Able UK said the project to dismantle the 32,700-tonne Clemenceau is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. | Able UK said the project to dismantle the 32,700-tonne Clemenceau is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. |
Toxic elements | Toxic elements |
Work on the vessel is taking place alongside existing contracts to scrap four former US naval vessels which arrived on Teesside in 2004. | Work on the vessel is taking place alongside existing contracts to scrap four former US naval vessels which arrived on Teesside in 2004. |
Able UK, which overcame environmental concerns over its recycling plans last year, says operating in a dry dock is the easiest and most environmentally-sound way of carrying out the work. | |
According to Able UK, the 255-metre Clemenceau contains 700 tonnes of asbestos-contaminated materials. | According to Able UK, the 255-metre Clemenceau contains 700 tonnes of asbestos-contaminated materials. |
It was recalled to France from India in 2006 amid concerns over its toxic elements. | It was recalled to France from India in 2006 amid concerns over its toxic elements. |
The Clemenceau, once the pride of the French navy, spent its final few years being moved around as officials tried to find a final resting place for the vessel. | |
Launched in 1957, it sailed more than a million nautical miles and saw service in Lebanon, the first Gulf War and the Balkans before being decommissioned in 1997. | Launched in 1957, it sailed more than a million nautical miles and saw service in Lebanon, the first Gulf War and the Balkans before being decommissioned in 1997. |
Graythorp is the largest dry dock in Europe. | Graythorp is the largest dry dock in Europe. |