54th Ship to Depart James River Reserve Fleet

The Vulcan is scheduled to be towed from the James River Reserve Fleet on Tuesday, December 19th. It will be the 54th ship to leave the James River site for recycling since January 1, 2001. The Vulcan, a former Navy repair ship built in 1941, which will leave the James River site to be dismantled at Bay Bridge Enterprises, LLC, of Chesapeake, Va., under the terms of a contract worth $494,000. The Vulcan has a small niche in Naval history. Until 1978, the only Navy ships to carry women on duty were hospital ships. That year, the Vulcan became the first non-hospital Navy ship to carry women on active duty. The Vulcan is expected to pass under the James River Bridge approximately two hours after the departure. However, be advised that such times vary widely depending on weather and other conditions.