Agency likely to grant ship recycling firm permit change for expansion

Environment Agency Wales has announced that it is likely to allow a Swansea ship recycling firm to make changes to its Environmental Permit to allow it to expand its operations.

The decision follows an in-depth assessment into the proposals which found that the permit change would not pose a risk to the health of local people or the environment.

Swansea Drydocks Ltd plans to extend the area in which they dismantle ships to include a ‘wet berth,’ area.

The extension will allow the operator to temporarily store end of life ships in the wet berth area to start stripping fixtures and fittings and remove any waste fuel and oil.

The restrictions within the permit will make sure that the surrounding environment is protected during this process.

The ships will then be fully dismantled in the dry dock area.

As part of its assessment, the Agency consulted with local people as well as a number of professional organisations, including the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board and the City and County of Swansea.

Before it reaches a final decision, the Agency will hold a second round of consultation to allow people the opportunity to highlight any new issues that have not been addressed as part of the decision making process.

Mary Youell, from Environment Agency Wales said:

“We have carried out a rigorous assessment into these proposals and the company has demonstrated that they have the necessary measures in place to protect local people and the environment.

“This second round of consultation gives everybody the opportunity to view the revised permit we have drafted, discuss how we have reached our decision, and bring any new issues to our attention.

“We will only allow the permit change once we are satisfied that the company will continue to operate safely and without impacting on local people or the environment.”

Copies of the application are available to view at the public registers at the City and County of Swansea’s offices at in the Civic Centre, Oystermouth Road and Environment Agency Wales’s office at Maes Newydd, Llandarcy.

People can submit their comments on the application in writing to Environment Agency, PSC, Quadrant 2, 99 Parkway Avenue, Sheffield, S9 4WF or emailed to psc@environment-agency.gov.uk, quoting reference number EPR/UP3298VL, by 15 April.

More information is available to view online at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/swanseadrydock.