MARAD Inks Deals for Three More Vessels

The U.S. Maritime Administration has signed contracts with a domestic ship dismantler to take in three more vessels that were a part of the James River Fleet.

Marine Metals, Brownsville, Tex., was awarded three contracts for $3.1 million to dismantle the three ships. They were considered high priority vessels for dismantling and recycling.

"This Administration is working very hard to get these ships out of the James River and on their way to qualified ship breaking yards," said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta. "We are all very anxious to reduce the number of ships in the fleet," he added.

The contract with Marine Metals is the first for MARAD this year, but the latest in a series of similar awards made since last spring. Twelve obsolete ships have left the James River in the last 15 months, going to facilities in the United Kingdom, Chesapeake, VA, and Brownsville, TX. The following list details contract awards made since last year, not including the Marine Metals contract announced today:

PRP/Able UK 15 ships $14.846 million

Bay Bridge 1 ship $ 1.104 million

Bay Bridge 4 ships $ 1.660 million

ESCO Marine 1 ship $ 779 thousand

ISL 1 ship $ 1.353 million

U.S. Navy 1 ship $ 653 thousand

MARAD serves as the U.S. Government's disposal agent for merchant-type vessels of 1,500 gross tons or more.  There are approximately 119 vessels available for disposal located in the three fleet sites of the National Defense Reserve Fleet, of which 63 are located in the James River Reserve Fleet in Newport News, Va. The MARAS has been given until late 2006 to dispose of close to 150 obsolete vessels located in various parts of the United States.