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Tees Road, HARTLEPOOL, TS25 2DB

This was part of the infamous US 'Ghost Fleet' that came to Hartlepool for scrapping amidst much environmentalist controversy. This was a US Fleet oiler commissioned in October 1945 and decommissioned in 1990. She was towed to the UK in 2003 for scrapping by Able UK. This shows one of the two cross compound steam turbines with reduction gear boxes. The vessel was 644' long and good for 18 knots. This was a good example of if you don't ask you don't get. I got a party of about six steam enthusiasts on board by virtue of asking nicely at a time when there was adverse publicity and no would have been the easy answer. Instead we got hoisted on board by cherry picker and had a couple of hours with our own guide to ensure we came to no harm. One of our party was a retired marine engineer and he felt this retired vessel seemed to be in better condition than some he had seen in service. Sadly, opportunities like this have largely disappeared.

This was part of the infamous US 'Ghost Fleet' that came to Hartlepool for scrapping amidst much environmentalist controversy. This was a US Fleet oiler commissioned in October 1945 and decommissioned in 1990. She was towed to the UK in 2003 for scrapping by Able UK. This is the boiler instrument panel in laid up condition plus graffiti. There is a representation of Hero's aeolipile and the text includes "4 burning, 2 turning" - referring to the number of boilers and turbines.

Taken through the security fence after a bracing stroll through a blizzard.

Photo shows the carrier shortly after mooring at the yard.

Brent Delta was one of the first platforms to be built in the very early days of Britain's oil and gas industry. It was about 115 miles (185km) north-east of Shetland in a cluster of four platforms which make up the Brent field. Its sister, Brent Bravo, produced its first oil in 1976. The 24,000 tonne Brent Delta platform was transported to Teeside in May 2017 to be decommissioned and scrapped.

This is the demolition yard of Able UK at Graythorpe near the nuclear power station and the titanium dioxide works. The four ships are from the so-called US "ghost fleet" and are the subject of considerable controversy. They arrived in late 2003 and environmentalists are blocking their demolition.

Where the North Sea Brent Delta oil platform looms from the water's edge - awaiting the breakers' attentions. Brent Delta was one of the first platforms to be built in the very early days of Britain's oil and gas industry. It sat about 115 miles (185km) north-east of Shetland in a cluster of four platforms which made up the Brent field. Its sister, Brent Bravo, produced its first oil in 1976. At the Brent field's peak, in 1982, the four platforms were producing more than half a million barrels of oil a day. Being one of the first, Brent Delta is now at the end of its life and was removed from The North Sea earlier this year though that is not as easy as you would think. Unusually for a platform, the legs of Brent Delta were made of concrete which made it much more difficult to decommission than those with steel legs.