Mare Island-based firm helps U.S. Maritime Administration with exchange of ship for recycling:

The company barely existed six months ago, and now Allied Defense Recycling is the federal government's emergency backup, a company executive says.

The Mare Island firm, which began operations at the beginning of the year, has been tapped to dismantle the ailing -- and leaking -- Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet "mothball" ship SS Lincoln.

The Lincoln will be traded for one of Allied Defense Recycling's already dry-docked vessels, the SS President.

"We're building a partnership (with fleet manager U.S. Maritime Administration) ... that's all come a long ways," said Jay Anast, Allied Defense Recycling's managing director. "Now we're the emergency solution. Hopefully we'll go from emergency solution to ideal solution."

The Lincoln was initially awarded in March to All Start Metals, a Brownsville, Texas company that purchased the vessel for $675,277.

Before embarking on a 5,000-nautical-mile voyage to Texas through the Panama Canal, the vessel was cleaned of growth and loose exterior paint by BAE Systems San Francisco Ship Repair -- where significant leaks were discovered when the vessel was returned to the water, a Maritime Administration spokesperson said.

The leak discovery came after local U.S. Coast Guard inspectors had reviewed and cleared the vessel for ocean tow, Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Laura Williams said Tuesday.

"We definitely try to catch all these things before they happen ... but sometimes it's just not possible," Williams said.

The Maritime Administration asked Allied Defense Recycling to take on the leaking Lincoln, and give up its sister ship, the President, Anast said.

That vessel has been resting in-dock at Mare Island since early March The two vessels were both launched in 1960 from San Francisco, and are of the same class and design.

"The ship was sinking -- it needed to go somewhere," Anast said. "It was the logical thing to do."

Allied Defense Recycling will lose some time spent in preparatory work done to the President, but will have two months more to complete its project, Anast said.

The company also will be compensated for work it did Monday preparing the President for tow to Texas, he added.

Besides cleaning the hull and removing defoliating paint, the President had a leak in its propeller shaft that needed repair, Anast said.

The President is expected to be removed from its dry dock today, and temporarily by docked pier-side.

The Lincoln is expected to be towed in to take its place on either Thursday or Friday, and then the President will be towed to Texas, Anast said.

"This swap will allow the agency to maintain progress on its commitment to clean up Suisun Bay with little delay and without substantial cost increases associated with re-bidding the existing contracts," Maritime Administrator David T. Matsuda said in a release.

"The Maritime Administration thanks the recycling companies and all parties involved for their flexibility and willingness to assist in meeting federal goals for an effective, environmentally-responsible ship recycling program," he continued.

For more information on Allied Defense Recycling online, visit www.mareislanddrydocks.com or call (707) 649-0561.

Source: Times-Herald. By Staff Writer, Jessica A. York (jyork@timesheraldonline.com). Posted: 04 May 2011

http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_17988919