Only 25 ships remain in Virginia’s Ghost Fleet

Oct 16, 2009

The James River Reserve Fleet in Newport News, Virginia is better known as the Ghost Fleet. Once numbering over 800 ships after World War II, the fleet has dwindled to only 25 ships as of mid-September following the departure of the Escape for recycling. Seventeen more ships are expected to leave the Ghost Fleet by the end of the year.

The reserve fleet is home to ships that have been decommissioned by the U.S. Navy and other American fleets. Almost 80 ships that had been a part of the fleet have been scrapped since 2001. There has been growing concern about the potential of toxic spills or other environmental disasters from the remaining ships. An administrator from the United States Maritime Administration stated that the ships that still remain do not pose a high risk to the environment, as they have already had their asbestos, oils and liquid PCBs removed. Ships with the worst hull conditions and the most oil are primarily located on the West Coast.

The fate of the remaining ships in the Ghost Fleet is largely dependent on the economy, as the market for selling ships has declined sharply in the past year. The ships that remain are currently being used for military and law enforcement training.

For the full story, go to HamptonRoads.com.

Latest News Stories