No Funding in '08 for Va. Ghost Fleet Removal

There won't be any Ghost Fleet ships towed out of the James River next year. MarAd, which oversees the Virginia's James River Reserve Fleet, says the most serious environmental threats have been removed, so it won't spend money next year to remove the 44 rusting ships that are still there. MarAd will focus on disposing of ships in California and Texas instead. The ships anchored off Fort Eustis are contaminated with asbestos and cancer-causing P-C-Bs. Local and state officials want to dispose of the ships as soon as possible, fearing the environmental damage that could unfold with severe weather such as a hurricane. About 55 ships have been removed from the James River fleet since 2002. Source: Daily Press