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BAN: Aircraft Carrier Won't Be Buried at Sea After All

The Basel Action Network reported that the U.S. Navy will recycle the USS Forrestal and three other retired aircraft carriers.

  • Apr 08, 2011

The Basel Action Network, a global toxic trade watchdog organization, claimed victory as the U.S. Navy confirmed it had changed its decision to sink the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal, choosing instead to have the ship recycled in the United States.

BAN estimates that the recycling will save millions of taxpayer dollars and create approximately 500 green jobs in the largely Texas-based ship recycling industry.

The Navy also said it will recycle three other retired carriers: the Saratoga, Independence, and Constellation. In past years, these vessels would have been dumped at sea as artificial reefs or as part of the Navy’s sinking exercise program (SINKEX).

“The Obama Administration’s new plan to recycle these four aircraft carriers appears to be a signal that the Administration may be correcting long-standing misguided policies that not only squander resources, but American jobs as well,” said Colby Self, BAN’s Green Ship Recycling Campaign director.

BAN’s calls to the Navy to end its plans to sink the carrier began in 2008, following the Navy’s report to Congress in which the military branch clarified its intent to sink the ship as an artificial reef. By July 2009, the Navy had already spent $6.4 million removing asbestos from the vessel in preparation for ship scuttling.

BAN last year published a report, “Jobs and Dollars Overboard: The Economic Case against Dumping U.S. Naval Vessels at Sea,” which calls the Navy’s SINKEX program a significant waste of taxpayer dollars.

However, BAN remains concerned that the federal government has not stopped the plan to sink the ex-destroyer Arthur Radford next month. The ship is now under the command of a three-state artificial reefing pact comprised of Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland. While the EPA has yet to approve the sinking, the Navy has already spent $200,000 in preparation.

Source: Basel Action Network

Comments

Fri, May 17, 2013 Jimmy Georgia

The Forrestal was my home from 1959 to 1962.From age 19 to age 22.I went from a boy to a man in three years and thousands of miles of travel aboard this ship.She is a big part of my life and my history.Convert her metal into steel for other ships if you must but you cannot destroy her spirit for thousands of young men who grew up on her.

Sun, Mar 24, 2013 Jim Taralli Massachusetts

I served Forrestal 1964-1966, S-1 division during her glory days and was aboard during the celebration of her 10th. anniversary. This ship was a sight to see anchored out at the various Med. ports. So many dignitaries, mayors of foreign cities, high ranking military officers and organizations came aboard to visit and tour the ship. It was a great representative of a great country and it's military might. I am proud to have been a part of it.

Sun, Feb 17, 2013 Charles J. Royster, Jr West Palm Beach FL

I am upset that a country that can put men on the moon, and robots on Mars, cannot figure out how to take our investments in the Forrestal class aircraft carriers and turn them into long term, industry leading jobs for Americans. At one time, there was an agency of the Federal Government called the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) which had the responsibility for seeking practical, economically feasable alternatives to turning these magnificent capital ships into razor blades. DRMS, and MARAD sold many former US Navy Liberty, Victory and other ships to private individuals (e.g. MORAN, the current US tugboat giant and Malcom McLean, the creator of the containership concept from converted WWII T2 Tankers) other nations which ended up building and creating the current Greek and Dutch shipping dominance we have today. At the extreme risk of being totally naive, and practical, would someone please tell me why these grand capital ships could not be demilitarized, redesigned, repowered & converted into say, container ships while being preserved and providing jobs for the US Maritime industry? In times of war, they will then be there for our continued use, and, they will pay for themseves while we wait.....(See photo on Face Book "Save the USS Forrestal")

Sun, Jan 20, 2013 Jon Pensacola

There is a grassroots effort in Pensacola to bring the Forrestal back to Pensacola. It may be tough since the Navy has removed it from the hold list, but we will try

Tue, Jan 15, 2013 Bill

I love the Forrestal, Plank Owner. She should be a museum. I was sudden thinking she would be sunk. If not a museum let's recycle. Still don't like that, but...

Wed, Jul 18, 2012 Stephen Strickland

I served on the Forrestal from 87-90, she is a great ship with a lit of history that will be wasted only to recover 30 million or so in scrap. Many more millions dollars have already been spent to extend her life and to have made her the fleet training carrier to which she served less than a year and then was decommissioned. She needs to be made into a museum to not only recoup that money but to preserve a rich history and educate future generations. Since there is now no dedicated fleet training carrier, that is a second option.

Sat, Feb 11, 2012 clifford Bremerton

I worked on the Independance and Constellation. I was in charge of tank cleaning and all water transfers from 1999-2009. I am appalled at how many man hours and resources, not to mention the MILLIONS of dollars went in to the process for the sinkex of both ships just to find out that Obama's reign wants to spend millions more to recycle metal. Maybe he should figure out how to make money other than increase the deficit.

Wed, Jan 18, 2012 Wayne L Hawaii

I was a member of the crew for 2 years from 1974 to 1976. i was hoping that the ship would be turned into a museum that everyone could enjoy. Seeing it being scrapped or sunk really saddens me, as I remember my time there with fondness. It was a great ship, and my home! I still have many of the mementos of my time there, including an engraved cigarette lighter given to me by the commanding officer when I reenlisted.

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 Don Foxworth Plant City, Fl.

As a former crew member of the Forrestal, I was very saddened at the thought of the mighty FID being sunk. Now, at least with her being recycled, maybe some of her steel, her soul, and the spirit of all the great men who served on her, will be used in the next great warship. God bless America

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