A SHIP scrappage outfit which has failed to bring a single vessel to Greenock claims it has invested more than £6 million in Inchgreen dry dock.

Atlas Decommissioning says it has spent the fortune on the iconic maritime industrial asset since signing a controversial lease agreement with Peel Ports.

But the fledgling company — set up only in August last year — has so far not provided any specific details on what has been bought for or improved at the dormant dock.

Atlas was forced earlier this year to lay off its start-up workforce after promising to create 100 'skilled jobs' amid a fanfare of publicity supported by Inverclyde Council.

A series of failures by the company to bring end-of-life container ships to Greenock to be broken up has intensified calls from a pressure group for politicians to stop supporting dock owners Peel Ports.

Robert Buirds, of the Campaign to Save Inchgreen Dry Dock, said: "The campaign has opposed the scrapyard development from day one as a half-baked plan to stop any shipbuilding or marine development of our national asset.

"Three shipbuilding and marine companies have approached Peel Ports to develop Inchgreen dry dock and bring real sustainable jobs, they were all rejected to stop competition for Peel's assets on the Mersey, Tees and the Tyne."

The Telegraph told last week how Atlas now fears that its misfiring operation could be sunk.

The company is seeking 'critical support' from legislators and industry regulators to start scrapping oil and gas industry ships

Its blueprint to bring container vessels to Inchgreen lies in tatters following a massive surge in ship-based freight transport as a result of the recovery from the Covid pandemic.

Campaigner Mr Buirds said: "Now Atlas are appealing for the same group of politicians and bureaucrats that embarrassed themselves supporting the scrapyard scheme to relax environmental and planning regulations.

"Unfortunately we have Inverclyde Council, Scottish and Westminster governments supporting the Peel Group misadventures on the Clyde and wrapped up in their web, they will probably kowtow to Atlas demands.

"Hopefully the Inverclyde community will rally round and oppose any approval and further development of this scrapyard."

Asked by the Tele how much money Atlas has invested at Inchgreen, the company's hired public relations firm said: "Level of investment is in excess of £6 million."

We asked whether an oil and gas industry ship currently berthed at Hunterston would be coming to Inchgreen.

The Atlas spokeswoman said: "At present, no.

"We lobbied Scottish Government to support the process with no financial commitment required from them, but those attempts have been unsuccessful."

In a public plea last week, Atlas managing director Michael Dixon said: "It is critical that the entire UK decommissioning supply chain is afforded the support to be able to continue its offering for the future and that support must be actioned now or the supply chain will simply cease to exist."