82nd Vessel Departs James River Reserve Fleet

The Resolute is scheduled to depart the James River Reserve Fleet Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in transit to Esco Marine, Inc., in Brownsville, Texas for recycling.  Resolute, a partial container/ break-bulk ship built in 1980, brought a purchase price of $90,726. The vessel is expected to pass under the James River Bridge approximately two hours after the departure.  However, be advised that tow times and passage times vary widely depending on weather and other conditions. The approximate travel time to Texas is 14 days.

The Maritime Administration stores ships at three National Defense Reserve Fleet sites: the James River in Virginia, Beaumont in Texas, and the Suisun Bay in California.  When ships become obsolete, the Maritime Administration arranges for their disposal in an environmentally sensitive manner.  The recycler often salvages, disposes of and sells metal and other materials in accordance with state and federal law.