Councillors in Hartlepool have confirmed their view that no valid planning consent exists for the creation of a dry dock at Able UK's Graythorp site.
The company wants the dry dock for the scrapping of the US ghost fleet, the first four vessels having crossed the Atlantic to Hartlepool in November and December.
Now, the company says it has started the process of preparing a new bid to get planning consent.
On December 17, Hartlepool Council's planning committee decided no valid planning permission existed for the creation of a dry dock facility.
After the committee looked at the issue again this month, a council spokesman said: "The committee has concluded that there is nothing which would change its view of December 17."
Peter Stephenson, managing director of Able UK, said: "Following the meeting of its planning committee on December 17, the council stated it had considered the additional information submitted by ourselves in relation to the planning permission for the 'bund' which would enable the provision of dry dock facilities.
"The statement from the council is effectively a reiteration of the position adopted by the planning committee on December 17. One can only assume it was felt necessary to hold a further meeting because some of the information we had provided had not been considered by members on December 17.
"In fact, following the meeting on December 17 and the outcome of court hearings in December, we have already begun the process of preparing new planning applications to refurbish the dry dock facilities and identify all the activities which can be undertaken at {Able UK's} Teesside Reclamation and Recycling Centre (TERRC) facility, including the recycling of ships," said Mr Stephenson.
