Two former U.S. Navy ships to be scrapped from the reserve fleet in Virginia
The James River Reserve Fleet in Newport News, Virginia – more commonly known as the ghost fleet – is losing another two ships. The U.S. Maritime Administration announced that the two ships will be scrapped for recycling by two different salvage yards.
One of the ships is the Escape, formerly a U.S. Navy rescue ship that was built in 1942 and supported the Project Mercury space program. It is being sent to Bay Bridge Enterprises in Chesapeake for scrapping. The other ship is the Cape Cod, formerly a U.S. Navy destroyer tender that was built in 1980. It will be sent to All Star Metals LLC in Brownsville, Texas for scrapping.
The Maritime Administration has been given a congressional mandate to safely dispose of the obsolete ships in its three reserve fleets in California, Texas and Virginia. The worry is that these vessels could break open or otherwise leak asbestos, mercury, waste fuels and other toxic substances into the environment.
Fewer than 30 ships now remain part of the James River Reserve Fleet. The Escape and Cape Cod will be the 83rd and 84th vessels from the ghost fleet to be scrapped since 2001.
For the full story, go to HamptonRoads.com.
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