The Environment Agency licence authorises the keeping, treating or disposal of controlled waste and will allow the company to dismantle ships and marine structures including oil rigs.

Representatives from the Environment Agency have spent the last month sifting through the application.

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Able UK's licence contains conditions which they must comply with to ensure there is no harm caused to human health or the environment.

Bob Pailor, from the Environment Agency, said: "We have spent the last month taking account of views from a wide range of people as part of our decision making process on whether a waste management licence should be issued and what conditions it should have.

"Recycling end-of-life ships is a good way of recovering scrap steel for reuse.

"Our job is to ensure that this is done in a manner that does not cause harm to the environment or to human health.

"We have been rigorous in determining this permit and will continue to be diligent in ensuring the right controls and regulations are in place once operations commence on site.

"Our first and primary thought will always be protection of the environment and peoples health."