The Inactive Fleet of the U.S. Navy and Maritime Administration
Oceangoing ships have played a vital role in our history from national defense to global trade. However, ships of all types have a limited useful life and must ultimately be dismantled with wastes properly disposed of and metals recycled.
At present, the U.S. Navy and the Maritime Administration have hundreds of inactive ships that are in need of dismantling. This inactive fleet is spread throughout the country including the Chesapeake Bay, San Francisco Bay and the Gulf Coast.
Their deteriorating hull conditions, combined with on-board hazardous materials, create an urgent need for disposal due to the risks of leaking and sinking. In its current condition, the government’s inactive fleet poses a serious threat to our marine environment nationwide.
Congress has begun to address this critical issue through the funding of two ship disposal programs.
Dismantling of non-combatant ships is administered by the Maritime Administration while the U.S. Navy is managing the disposal of its own combatant vessels.
Both programs set as their priority worker safety, strict compliance with all environmental regulations and “best value” pricing.
Together, these two programs provide a well thought out plan to reduce the risk of environmental damage through timely disposal of the inactive fleet.
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"The situation at hand
is literally a race
against time...
the level of
government funding
will make the difference
between pollution
and a disaster avoided."
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