A variety of fates awaits ships after decommissioning

 Since 12-14-02

December 16, 2002
Navy Times

Once the decommissioning ceremony is over and sailors say goodbye to their ship, what happens to the hull?

The answer depends on what the Navy has in mind, said Mark Deskins, deputy program manager for inactive ships, Naval Sea Systems Command.

The options are:

• Mobilization Category B.  This is the highest state of readiness for an inactive ship, in which it’s towed to an inactive ships facility and mothballed, leaving open the possibility it can be brought back to life if needed.
  
  Workers add dehumidification equipment, protect it from rust and install fire and flooding alarms.
  
  Engines and other equipment are left in the ship if it needs to be revived, although bringing a ship back to life can be a lengthy process, Deskins said.

• Foreign military sale.  The ship is transferred to a foreign country. This is sometimes called a “hot transfer,” in which the U.S. crew walks off and the foreign crew walks aboard.

• Logistics support asset. The ship is towed to an inactive-ships site and other agencies strip it for parts.

• Disposal. When marked for disposal, ships either can be donated as museums, scrapped under the Ship Disposal Project or sunk as targets.

• Title transfer. The ship is transferred to the Maritime Administration for storage until a decision is made on its ultimate fate.

Submitted,
YNCS Don Harribine, USN(Ret)