Former USS Saipan amphibious assault ship to be scrapped in Texas
The USS Saipan was an amphibious assault ship for the U.S. Navy. She was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 2007 after 30 years of service. She was then berthed at the reserve shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania until October 28, when she headed out to sea. Her final destination will be Brownsville, Texas, where she will be scrapped by the workers at International Shipbreaking Ltd.
At 28,000 tons, the Saipan will be the largest ship that International Shipbreaking has ever scrapped. Shipyard workers will have to remove asbestos and other harmful materials from the ship. Asbestos was commonly used in many parts of U.S. Navy ships because of its fireproofing properties. But asbestos exposure can lead to a number of serious illnesses, including asbestosis and mesothelioma, a rare but serious form of cancer.
The U.S. Navy paid two cents for International Shipbreaking to tow the ship away for scrapping, which represents the net cost to the government. The shipbreaker will re-sell the scrap metal after returning some items, like the ship’s screws, to the Navy.
For the full story, go to Navy Times.
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