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Fort Eustis News

11 Dec 2014

Yellowstone to Depart James River Reserve Fleet

USS Yellowstone (Photo: National Parks Service, U.S. Dept. of Interior)

On Tuesday, December 16, 2014, the USS Yellowstone - a National Defense Reserve Fleet non-retention vessel is scheduled to depart the James River Reserve Fleet in Fort Eustis, Virginia for recycling at ESCO Marine, Inc. in Brownsville, Texas.    The Yellowstone, a former U.S. Navy tender (AD-41), was built by NASSCO Shipyard in San Diego, California and commissioned in 1980. The vessel supported operations during Desert Shield and Desert Storm before the U.S. Navy decommissioned the vessel in 1996.

27 Jan 2010

High-Speed Ferries Ready for Haiti

High-speed ferry ships MV Huakai and MV Alakai are preparing to sail to Haiti in support of Operation Unified Response to provide disaster relief following the Jan. 12 earthquake there. Huakai and Alakai were originally built to serve as passenger and vehicle ferries in Hawaii but were turned over to the Maritime Administration's custody when the ferry service went bankrupt. The ships will be under operational control of the Military Sealift Command during Operation Unified Response. The ships' main tasks will be to transfer equipment and personnel in the region. They are configured for the mission to each hold 450 tons of cargo and 500 passengers and can travel at a sustained speed of 33 knots. On Wednesday, Jan.

20 Jan 2009

MARAD’s Last Liberty Ship Reaches Greece

Flying the Greek flag, the Hellas Liberty, formerly known as the Arthur M. Huddell, has safely reached the port of Piraeus in Greece after leaving Norfolk, Virginia, on December 6, 2008. Until July 2008, the World War II-era Huddell was the last Liberty ship in the Maritime Administration’s National Defense Reserve Fleet., and was moored in the James River Reserve Fleet site at Fort Eustis. The ship was cleaned at a Norfolk shipyard before being towed to Greece. American shipyards built 2,751 Liberty ships during World War II, in the largest shipbuilding effort in history. Liberty ships crewed by merchant mariners carried troops and military cargo all over the world. The building and sailing of the Liberty ships, and their successors, the Victory ships, were overseen by the U.S.

16 Jan 2009

James River Ship Sold For Recycling

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration has sold a ship for recycling to Bay Bridge Enterprises of Chesapeake, Va. The Milwaukee, an AOR2-class oiler built in 1969 at the General Dynamics shipyard in Quincy, Mass, brought a purchase price of $56,410. “Even with the recent drop in worldwide scrap steel prices, we continue to move obsolete ships out of the James River,” said Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton, noting that the departure of Milwaukee will bring to 78 the number of ships removed from the James River site at Fort Eustis since January 1, 2001. The purchase contract for Milwaukee means that there will soon be only 25 obsolete ships left at the site without contracts for disposal.

11 Dec 2008

$3.5m for Eco-Friendly Ship Clean-Up

On Dec. 1, U.S. Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton announced a contract with Certified Coatings Company of Concord, Calif., to remove and contain exfoliating paint from ships in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, Calif. The contract is potentially worth $3.5m over five years. Similar contracts are being prepared for the two fleet sites in Beaumont, Texas, and Fort Eustis, Va., overseen by the Maritime Administration. The contract is part of the Maritime Administration’s Environmental Excellence Initiative which focuses on strengthening environmental protections and implementing green procedures. “We are committed to being good stewards to the environment in all our fleet sites,” said Connaughton.

15 Jul 2008

MarAd Sells Two Obsolete Vessels For More Than $1m Each

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration announced today that it has sold two obsolete ships to American salvage companies for more than $1 million each. The sale of these two vessels from the James River Reserve Fleet (JRRF) near Fort Eustis, Va., each exceed the agency’s ship-disposal program’s recent record-setting price fetched by the sale of the Adonis, which last March sold for $1,151,727. Agency contracting officials report that the has been sold to Esco Marine, Inc., of , , for $1,465,726; and the Truckee has been sold to Bay Bridge Enterprises, L.L.C., of , for $1,231,328. Three other obsolete government-owned ships are also being sold for a combined price of nearly $1.5 million.

03 Mar 2008

MarAd To Recycle Three More Ships

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration has signed contracts totaling $1,136,106 for the recycling of three obsolete ships from its reserve fleets. All three ships will be recycled at the Esco Marine facility in Brownsville, Texas. Two of the ships, Cape Catoche and Cape Carthage, are in the James River Reserve Fleet site at Fort Eustis in Virginia. When they depart the James River site for recycling, they will be the 68th and 69th ships to do so since January of 2001. The third ship, Del Viento, is in the Beaumont Reserve Fleet in Texas. The Maritime Administration keeps ships in three National Defense Reserve Fleet sites to support Armed Forces movements and to respond to national emergencies.

11 Mar 2002

USCG Protect Plan Dubbed Neptune Shield

New security regulations and specially trained port security teams are among the newest tools being employed in Operation Neptune Shield, the Coast Guard's plan for fighting the global war on terrorism here at home, as military operations continue against Taliban and Al-Qaida fighters overseas. "Since Sept. 11, the Coast Guard has implemented a multi-layered strategy for protecting our ports and waterways," said Atlantic Area Commander Vice Adm. Thad Allen. "Under Operation Neptune Shield, new regulations, additional resources and a closer working relationship with our intelligence and law enforcement partners have allowed us to harden our borders.

05 Apr 2002

Operation Neptune Shield Aims to Protect U.S. Ports

New security regulations and specially trained port security teams are among the newest tools being employed in Operation Neptune Shield, the Coast Guard's plan for fighting the global war on terrorism here at home, as military operations continue against Taliban and Al-Qaida fighters overseas. "Since Sept. 11, the Coast Guard has implemented a multi-layered strategy for protecting our ports and waterways," said Atlantic Area Commander Vice Adm. Thad Allen. "Under Operation Neptune Shield, new regulations, additional resources and a closer working relationship with our intelligence and law enforcement partners have allowed us to harden our borders.

21 Jul 2005

MarAd Announces Ship Disposal Contracts

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has awarded new contracts to dismantle two ships from the James River Reserve Fleet at Fort Eustis, VA, the agency announced today. The work will go to Bay Bridge Enterprises, LLC, of Chesapeake, VA. The two ships will bring to 14 the number of ships that have left the James River site for disposal in the past year, and to 41 the number that have left since January of 2001. Bay Bridge Enterprises, which has dismantled six other ships for MARAD in the past two years, was awarded two contracts: one to dismantle the Sunbird, for $85,920, and another to scrap the Mizar, for $243,900. The Sunbird, a Chanticleer-class submarine rescue ship, was built in Savannah, GA and launched in April 1946.

28 Jul 2005

Two Ships to Leave James River Fleet

International Shipbreaking Limited (ISL) of Brownsville, TX, was awarded contracts for removing two ships from the James River Reserve Fleet at Fort Eustis, VA, the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced today. “These contracts are further evidence of our commitment to reduce the number of obsolete ships in our fleet as quickly, safely and efficiently as possible,” said Acting Maritime Administrator John Jamian. “These important contracts continue MARAD’s successful scrapping program aimed at removing the most seriously deteriorated ships in the James River Fleet. This work is absolutely essential to protect the James and surrounding communities,” said Senator John Warner.

09 Nov 2007

Shipyard Closes, Leaves “Ghost Fleet” Ships in Limbo

The fates of six ships from the James River Reserve Fleet are in limbo after a Maryland salvage yard that was supposed to scrap the vessels abruptly closed and its owners disappeared. North American Ship Recycling Inc., near Baltimore, won federal contracts in August worth $2.1m to dispose of the government-owned dinosaurs. But the yard, which opened in 2004 amid much fanfare, including a celebratory speech from then-U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, shut down without notice sometime last month, leaving behind two of the Virginia "ghost fleet" ships and plenty of questions. To protect against a fuel spill, government-hired crews have since installed rubber booms around the two abandoned ships…

14 Jun 2007

MDSU 2, DOD Divers Train to Improve Environment

Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 in Little Creek, Va., along with Army, Navy Reserve and Coast Guard divers began a monumental training exercise off the coast of Fort Lauderdale on June 3. During the monthlong “DiveExEast 07,” military and Coast Guard divers will determine the most effective method for recovering an estimated 600,000 to 700,000 used tires off the ocean floor. It’s estimated that nearly 2 million tires were placed into the ocean in the 1970’s by private organizations hoping to create an artificial reef. Over the years, the successful formation of an artificial reef did not occur; the tires loosened and moved, damaging the nearby natural coral reefs.

30 Apr 2007

MarAd Lifts Ghost Fleet Moratorium

According to the Daily Press, MarAd has lifted a moratorium on the disposal of ships in the James River Reserve Fleet, clearing the way for more of the rusting ships in the ghost fleet to be removed. The agency had put a temporary freeze on ship disposal last month while state agencies nationwide disputed how the ship hulls are cleaned. The environmental dispute is holding up disposal work in California and Texas, but Virginia officials have let the work proceed. Since last year, the Coast Guard has required that ship hulls be brushed to remove marine growth that may have accumulated before it is towed to foreign waters. Some complained the process could remove lead paint or decayed metals that end up in the water.

27 Feb 2007

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

13 Feb 2007

Ghost Fleet Ship to Become Artificial Reef

It has been a troop carrier, a missile-tracking ship, and a starred in a Hollywood movie. Now the General Hoyt S. Vandenberg will become an artificial reef off Key West, Fla. Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton approved the transfer of the Vandenberg to the state of Florida, which plans to turn the 63-year old vessel into an artificial reef later this year. “Reefing is an excellent way to dispose of our obsolete ships,” said Connaughton. "It is good for the economy, good for the environment, and a great deal for U.S. The approval clears the way for the ship to be cleaned and sunk for a reef. The Vandenberg will join other ships of the Maritime Administration’s National Defense Reserve Fleet being used in the Maritime Administration's Artificial Reefing Program: the Texas Clipper I…

24 Mar 2006

More Ships to Leave Ghost Fleet

Two more ships are leaving the James River, headed for disposal facilities in Virginia and Maryland, in what has become a regular occurrence since the Bush Administration took over management of the nation’s ship disposal program five years ago, the U.S. Maritime Administration announced. The Howard W. Gilmore is scheduled to leave the James River Reserve Fleet at Fort Eustis on Thursday, making it the 50th ship to leave the river since January 1, 2001. It is one of the last World War II-vintage ships still at the fleet, which is good news for the ship disposal program, according to John Jamian, MARAD’s Acting Administrator. In a news conference at the fleet site today, Jamian said, “Our disposal efforts can keep moving to newer ships, which bring better prices in the scrap steel market.

18 Aug 1999

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.

12 Feb 2003

Marad Activates More RRF Ships

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) today activated two more Ready Reserve Force (RRF) ships to support Operation Enduring Freedom. The activations follow orders received from the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command. The two ships, the CAPE LOBOS and the CAPE LAMBERT, are part of the James River Reserve Fleet anchored near Fort Eustis, VA. “The maritime community has served America with great distinction during every major crisis in our Nation’s history, and the mariners who crew the ships are the cornerstone of this effort,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta. The recently-activated ships join 32 others already activated to support Operation Enduring Freedom.

23 Aug 2005

Coast Guard Commissions New Port Security Unit

Coast Guard Pacific Area is set to commission a new port security unit (PSU 312). Vice Adm. Harvey Johnson, commander of Coast Guard Pacific Area, will be the presiding official for the ceremony in which Cdr. Donald G. Huenefeld will assume responsibility for PSU 312. PSUs provide a force of six active duty and 140 reserve members who possess specialized skills, capabilities and expertise to perform a broad range of port security and harbor defense missions. They are the model on which Coast Guard law enforcement detachments and maritime safety and security teams are based. PSUs are capable of augmenting Coast Guard or Department of Defense forces during major marine events or law enforcement operations focused primarily in ports, harbors, internal waterways and coastal regions.

28 Aug 2002

James River Reserve Fleet Secured

The Coast Guard responded to the report of three listing vessels attached to the James River Reserve Fleet. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Hampton Roads, Va., received the initial report from Maritime Administration at Fort Eustis, Va., at about 1:15 this afternoon that some vessels in the fleet were listing. Upon receiving the report, the Coast Guard immediately deployed a two-man pollution investigation team on a Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., for an overflight of the ships, a two-man team on a Coast Guard 41-foot rescue boat from Station Portsmouth, and a four-man team on land. The three teams determined that one vessel was slightly listing but no signs of pollution had occurred from the incident.

23 Mar 2006

More Ships to Leave James River Fleet

Two more ships are leaving the James River, headed for disposal facilities in Virginia and Maryland, in what has become a regular occurrence since the Bush Administration took over management of the nation’s ship disposal program five years ago, the U.S. Maritime Administration announced on March 23. The Howard W. Gilmore, one of the last World War II-vintage ships still at the fleet, is scheduled to leave the James River Reserve Fleet at Fort Eustis, making it the 50th ship to leave the river since January 1, 2001. The next ship set to leave is a barge, the UEB, sold to North American Ship Recycling of Sparrows Point, MD, for more than $76,000. MARAD maintains the James River Reserve Fleet at Fort Eustis as a reserve of ships for defense and national emergencies.