Already Westminster’s dumping ground for radioactive waste, the Clyde is targeted to receive 6 000 infected sailors rejected by other ports

From the Greenock Telegraph, yesterday, but otherwise ignored by Scotland’s media:

SECRET plans have been drawn up to berth a dozen cruise ships at Greenock and bring potentially thousands of crew members ashore. The intention is to disembark crews – of up to 500 people from each vessel – for ‘onward travel to transport hubs’ and repatriation to their home countries amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Telegraph understands. Peel Ports — owners of Ocean Terminal — have applied for permission to dock 12 vessels here for ‘lay-up’ in the wake of the collapse of the cruise industry due to the pandemic. An Inverclyde Council report on the matter has been withheld from public view, but the Telegraph has learned details of the plan through its sources.

https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/18427443.secret-coronavirus-greenock-port-plan-revealed/?ref=twtrec

In March, the Guardian reported on thousands of crew and passengers ‘stranded as countries turned them away.’

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/16/cruise-ships-scramble-to-find-safe-harbour-amid-covid-19-crisis-as-countries-turn-them-away

The area around Greenock, Inverclyde, already has one of the highest covid-19 infection levels in Scotland, has been referred to as the ‘death capital’ and is, in addition, the most deprived area in the country:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52530505

And, from the Ferret fact-checking service in March:

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been attacked for planning to increase discharges of radioactive waste into the Firth of Clyde by up to 50 times. An application by the MoD to overhaul waste disposal from the Faslane and Coulport nuclear bases near Helensburgh suggests that radioactive discharges could rise sharply as more submarines are stationed there.

https://theferret.scot/radioactive-waste-faslane-clyde/

Surely, there must be a good berth in the Thames, close to that nice hospital Boris Johnson used?

9 thoughts on “Already Westminster’s dumping ground for radioactive waste, the Clyde is targeted to receive 6 000 infected sailors rejected by other ports

  1. Up to 500 crew per ship , 12 ships , potentially 6,000 crew members disembarking with not enough buses to take them to Glasgow airport . The worst hit virus town in Scotland does not need crew going in to Aldi and Tesco which are right outside the terminal and spreading more germs on the local public and wandering around till they can get a bus or train ! .

    Liked by 1 person

  2. “The power to stop ships berthing lies with the Scottish Government”

    The council can stop the crew disembarking.

    One to watch.
    And another important news item not reported by Scotland’s Non Media.
    They are too busy encouraging a breakdown of the Lockdown.
    Call Kaye this morning. Caller after caller “lockdown is over”.
    Must be a conundrum for old Yoons wanting to destroy the Nicola’s Lockdown puts their health at severe risk.

    Liked by 3 people

      1. My understanding is that overall Ports and Harbours powers rest with the Secretary of State for Scotland . In the case of Shetland , that power is delegated to the local authority which has a unique status under the Shetland Act . Please correct me if I’m wrong .

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  3. Peel Ports have berthing available in their other port facilities in Dublin, London Medway, Manchester Ship Canal, Liverpool and other ports. They have, for years, ignored calls to reopen the dry dock at Port Glasgow so as to benefit their other operations and now the Clyde is their favourite place. When the vessels dock they will have to remove all the food.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310822/ Points 6.1 and then 7.1
    What then for all the rats, mice, fleas, cockroaches, mossies etc left on board. Point 7.1.1 details some of the diseases these things carry. Will they have to fly, swim, walk ashore to find food etc. Poor Inverclyde. And all for some ones profits.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. These ships should return to where they are normally based.
    There was a report a while ago of 4 cruise ships laying anchor in the Firth of Forth, not their normal destination. A spokesperson said they would be following the guidelines of Public Health England – talk about adding insult to injury.

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