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Navy saves millions using DLA Disposition Services for ship recycling

03 February 2023

From Jeff Landenberger

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. -- Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services is assisting the U.S. Navy in recycling five retired ships as part of a scrap sales contract to protect the environment and save taxpayer money.

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A Navy ship underway on a dark blue sea with a light blue sky
28 April 2006: The Caribbean Sea - USS Underwood (FFG 36) underway while participating in Partnership of the Americas, a maritime training and readiness deployment of the U.S. Naval Forces with Caribbean and Latin American countries in support of the U.S. Southern Command objectives for enhanced maritime security. U.S. Navy photo by PH2 Peter D. Blair
A Navy ship underway on a dark blue sea with a light blue sky
USS Underwood (FFG 36)
28 April 2006: The Caribbean Sea - USS Underwood (FFG 36) underway while participating in Partnership of the Americas, a maritime training and readiness deployment of the U.S. Naval Forces with Caribbean and Latin American countries in support of the U.S. Southern Command objectives for enhanced maritime security. U.S. Navy photo by PH2 Peter D. Blair
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Photo By: PH2 Peter D. Blair
VIRIN: 230201-D-DO441-236
The five ships include the ex-Yorktown (CG 48), the ex-John L. Hall (FFG 32), the ex-Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58), the ex-Underwood (FFG 36), and the ex-Nicholas (FFG 47).

The winning bid for recycling the ships was $360,000, according to DLA Disposition Services Public Sales Division Chief Carlos Torres. The important takeaway for taxpayers, Torres said, is that the contract allows the Navy to avoid per-ship disposal costs that could reach millions of dollars for each vessel.

A man sits outside on a chair with his legs up on the ships rail and binoculars up to his eyes as he scans for threats. behind him in he distance is an oil tanker his ship is guarding.
01 July 1988: The Persian Gulf - MS2 William Hendrickson scans for mines from the bow of Nicholas(FFG 47) during an Earnest Will convoy mission in which tankers are led through the waters of the Gulf by U.S. naval ships. U.S. Navy photo by PHCS Terry Mitchell
A man sits outside on a chair with his legs up on the ships rail and binoculars up to his eyes as he scans for threats. behind him in he distance is an oil tanker his ship is guarding.
Lookout
01 July 1988: The Persian Gulf - MS2 William Hendrickson scans for mines from the bow of Nicholas(FFG 47) during an Earnest Will convoy mission in which tankers are led through the waters of the Gulf by U.S. naval ships. U.S. Navy photo by PHCS Terry Mitchell
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Photo By: PHCS Terry Mitchell
VIRIN: 230201-D-DO441-147
DLA Disposition Services and the Navy partnered in writing the contract, Torres said. Navy officials then reviewed technical proposals and ensured that companies bidding could meet the requirements.

When a ship is retired from the active fleet it is decommissioned. Once that happens, the Navy places them in its reserve, or what is often referred to as its “Mothball Fleet.” Some ships are retained in case they are needed in an emergency. But as newer ships are moved into the reserve fleet, older ones are released to make room and reduce maintenance costs.

A man in his Navy dress white uniform holds his small son up and hugs him. Many people are in the background.
18 August 2000: Norfolk, Va. - Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Tony Cunningham from Hampton, Virginia, assigned to Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) gets a welcome home kiss from his young son, Desmond. Navy photo by PH1 Martin Maddock
A man in his Navy dress white uniform holds his small son up and hugs him. Many people are in the background.
Home coming
18 August 2000: Norfolk, Va. - Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Tony Cunningham from Hampton, Virginia, assigned to Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) gets a welcome home kiss from his young son, Desmond. Navy photo by PH1 Martin Maddock
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Photo By: PH1 Martin Maddock
VIRIN: 230201-D-DO441-158
Torres said ships are towed from both Philadelphia and Washington’s Puget Sound to Brownsville, Texas, where full dismantling will commence and 98% of all removed materials are expected to be recycled.  

“The cool thing is, before the last cut, they stop all the work,” Torres said. “There are about 100, 150 employees there who all gather around, and the owner of the company reads the history of the ship. Then they do a moment of silence. So, it's really respectful and honorable how they do that.”

Torres said he and Navy Rear Adm. Doug Noble, director of DLA Logistics Operations have both toured the contractor’s facility to see the dismantling process.

A gray Navy frigate sits out of the water on the orange deck of a heavy lift ship that is underway on a dark blue sea.
30 July 1988: Newport, R.I. - Aerial view of the Dutch heavy lift ship Mighty Servant 2 transporting Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58). The frigate was damaged when it struck a mine while on patrol in the Persian Gulf. U.S. Navy photo by PH2(SW) Jeff Elliott
A gray Navy frigate sits out of the water on the orange deck of a heavy lift ship that is underway on a dark blue sea.
Heavy lift
30 July 1988: Newport, R.I. - Aerial view of the Dutch heavy lift ship Mighty Servant 2 transporting Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58). The frigate was damaged when it struck a mine while on patrol in the Persian Gulf. U.S. Navy photo by PH2(SW) Jeff Elliott
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Photo By: PH2(SW) Jeff Elliott
VIRIN: 230201-D-DO441-258
“Getting to see the ship recycling program here in Brownsville is bittersweet,” Noble said.

“Over their many years of service, the ships we saw today served as homes at sea for thousands of sailors, spanning a total of 149 years,” Noble said. “There are many memories, I’m sure, that the crewmembers have with their ships. Thankfully, we still have those memories.”

A collection of four photos all showing people holding signs welcoming people home or kissing their sailor home from the deployment,
02 July 2007: Mayport, Fla. - Photos of the homecoming of guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) to Mayport, Fla. While deployed Underwood conducted more than 35 boarding missions in support of Commander Task Force 158 operations in the Persian Gulf. Top Left: - Friends and family hold signs and cheer during the homecoming. Top Right: - The daughters of Gas Turbine System Technician 1st Class David Pfister cheer during the homecoming. Bottom Left: - Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Christopher Ball kisses his newborn baby for the first time. Bottom Right: - Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class John Acheson is greeted with a kiss by his wife. All photos by MC2 Leah Stiles
A collection of four photos all showing people holding signs welcoming people home or kissing their sailor home from the deployment,
Family photos
02 July 2007: Mayport, Fla. - Photos of the homecoming of guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) to Mayport, Fla. While deployed Underwood conducted more than 35 boarding missions in support of Commander Task Force 158 operations in the Persian Gulf. Top Left: - Friends and family hold signs and cheer during the homecoming. Top Right: - The daughters of Gas Turbine System Technician 1st Class David Pfister cheer during the homecoming. Bottom Left: - Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Christopher Ball kisses his newborn baby for the first time. Bottom Right: - Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class John Acheson is greeted with a kiss by his wife. All photos by MC2 Leah Stiles
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Photo By: MC2 Leah Stiles
VIRIN: 230201-D-DO441-136
“The ship recycling program provides a vitally important function at the end of a weapons system’s service life, enabling the Department to ensure we are being good stewards of both the taxpayer’s money and good stewards of the environment.”

 

  
 

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