Two former US Navy ships contaminated with chemicals, which are at the centre of an environmental row, were expected in the English Channel by the end of today, the Coastguard said.
The vessels passed within 200 miles of the Irish coast on Friday.
The British Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which was unable to give an exact location, said weather conditions were good and the ships were due in Hartlepool next week on time.
Plans to dismantle the ships were shelved after the proposal was deemed to flout international rules. Last week the Environment Secretary in Britain said the ships could be temporarily stored at Hartlepool before going back across the Atlantic.
It is estimated the first ship will dock at the English port on Tuesday with the second arriving on Wednesday.
the Minister for the Marine, Mr Ahern said on Friday the return of the ships to the US had vindicated the position taken on the matter by the Government here.