Ex-USNS Vessels to Depart for Texas
The ex-USNS Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) and the ex-USNS Henry Eckford (T-AO-192) are scheduled to depart from the James River Reserve on July 12 and July 19, respectively. They will be towed to Brownsville, TX, for recycling at the ISL ship breaking facility. The vessels are the fifth and sixth ships built in the 18-ship Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet of replenishment oilers of the United States Navy. The two vessels were constructed at the Pennsylvania Shipbuilding Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After the vessel contracts were cancelled, they were eventually towed to the James River Reserve Fleet in late 1994, the only two ships of the 18-ship Henry J. Kaiser class not to be completed.
MarAd Offering Tankers for Sale; Issue Ruling
The Maritime Administration (MarAd) has two tankers up for sale, for the limited purpose of their reconstruction for sale or charter to a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) country for use as oilers. Both vessels, Henry Eckford and Benjamin Isherwood, are located at the James River Reserve Fleet, Fort Eustis, Va. MarAd also issued a ruling denying Apex Marine Ship Management Company's request for confirmation. The ruling states upon properly being document under the U.S.-flag, an existing foreign-built vessel may be qualified immediate participation in the U.S.-Israel grain trade consistent with the terms of a 1998 Side Letter issued by the Israeli Government. Liberty Maritime Corporation opposed the request. In addition, Park Place New Orleans of Las Vegas, Nev.
