These photos are of ocean-going ships being dismantled or salvaged from shipyards across the world. They are from my own personal collection or submitted by visitors to this site. All submissions are welcome.
BROWNSVILLE, TX
USS DARBY - Naval troop ship under the torch 3/13/06. Photo by Steve Hilsz.
USNS NEPTUNE - Built in 1946 as a 370 foot cable-layer / spy ship for the Army.
She was originally named WILLIAM H.G. BULLARD. She was transferred to the
Navy in 1953 and named USS NEPTUNE. In 1973 she became a civilian-crewed
ship and designated USNS NEPTUNE. The NEPTUNE was decommissioned on 1/1/91
and sent to the James River Reserve Fleet (Ghost Fleet). Scrapping was
done in Brownsville TX in 2006. Photo shows being
dismantled in 2006. Photo by Steve Hilsz.
USNS NEPTUNE - another view. Alongside the Neptune is the WACCAMA a Naval
supply ship. Photo by Steve Hilsz
USS STERETT (DLG/CG-31) - A Naval Cruiser launched in 1964 and commissioned in
1967. She was a 547 foot guided missile cruiser. Decommissioned 3/24/94
and sent to Benicia Reserve Fleet in Suisun Bay, CA. She was later sent to
International Shipbreaking at Brownsville. Photo shows STERETT being prepared for dismantling, Feburary 2006. Photo by Steve Hilsz
USS ENGLAND (DLG/CG-22) - Another guided missile cruiser being scrapped by
International Shipbreaking. The ENGLAND was launched in 1962 and was 533
feet long. She was decommissioned on 1/21/94 and spent 11 years at the
Benicia Reserve Fleet in Suisun Bay. She was sent to Brownsville Texas for
scrapping and seen in the early stages of dismantling. Photo Courtesy
of International Shipbreaking Ltd.
MAGALLANES - built as the MORMACARGO in 1964, renamed AMERICAN ARGO in 1983,
renamed STELLA LYKES in 1986. 1989 she became the MAGALLANES. She is
seen here being scrapped in February 2006. Photo by Marc McAllister
MAGALLANES - another view. Photo by Marc McAllister
Chesapeake, VA
MARINE FIDDLER - The last C-4 being scrapped 11/11/03. Photo by Franz Von
Riedel
Alang India
Aliaga, Turkey
Ghost Fleet (James River Reserve Fleet)
New Port News VA
The James River Reserve Fleet, also known as "The Ghost Fleet" is comprised of Navy and commercial ships. These ships are either destined for Stateside or foreign shipyards for dismantling, or are mothballed for future military use. This fleet, at one time, consisted of nearly 300 ships. Today, due to pressure from local government and environmental groups, has dwindled down to 2 or 3 dozen ships.
Commercial ship awaiting it's fate. Photo by Glen Braden
Two of many ships waiting their turn. Photo by Glen Braden
Close up of Naval ships. Photo by Glen Braden
N.S. SAVANNAH, Shown at James River in 2002. The Nuclear Ship
SAVANNAH was built in 1962 as the first cargo/passenger nuclear powered vessel.
She was 596 feet long. Laid up in 1972, she was deemed "uneconomical to
run". She was moved to the "Ghost Fleet" on James River in 1999.
Photo by Glen Braden
Lined up and no place to go. Photo by Glen Braden
USS HOWARD W. GILMORE - leaves the River for dismantling in late March 2006. The
GILMORE was a WWII era submarine tender.
As of March 2006, 47 ghost ships remain at the River..