News

MARAD 06-06	Contact: Shannon Russell
June 15, 2006	Tel.: (202) 366-5807

Maritime Administration Announces Disposal Contracts on Four Ships in Suisun Bay

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced today that it has signed contracts for the disposal of four ships from the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet at Benicia, CA, bringing to nine the number that have left the facility for recycling since October 2005.

The four ships are World War II-vintage Victory ships: Hannibal Victory, the Barnard Victory, the Occidental Victory and the Sioux Falls Victory. When ships are no longer considered useful for defense or aid missions, MARAD arranges for their proper disposal and works closely with the Coast Guard to ensure the safe transport of the vessels to their final destinations. Before towing from the fleet, all ships are inspected by an independent party. In addition, they must meet extensive Coast Guard and international regulations regarding environmental safeguards, seaworthiness, and watertight integrity

“We continue to demonstrate our commitment to remove these obsolete ships from our fleet,” said Acting Deputy Maritime Administrator Julie Nelson. “We are recycling them in a way that respects their history and maintains the highest safety and environmental protection standards.”

Marine Metal, Inc., of Brownsville, TX, will dismantle the Hannibal Victory and the Sioux Falls Victory, under the terms of contracts each worth $978,698. All Star Metals, Inc., also of Brownsville, will dismantle the Barnard Victory for $1,202,949, and the Occidental Victory for $1,191,987. The steel from all four ships will be recycled.

MARAD operates three National Defense Reserve Fleet Sites, one in the James River in VA and one at Beaumont, TX, in addition to the Suisun Bay site.

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