U.S.
Transportation Secretary visits Suisun Bay in Northern California to celebrate
surpassing administration's goal for recycling.
Ray
LaHood, US Transportation Secretary visited Shuisun Bay for the occasion. In
2010, the Department’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) committed to removing 28
ships from the fleet by September 30, 2012.
To date, MARAD has removed 36 ships, with three more vessels scheduled
for removal by the end of the year.
“Three
years ago, the Department of Transportation promised to get rid of the ships
that posed a threat to the environment, and I am proud to announce today that
we are delivering on that promise,” said Secretary LaHood. “Removing these vessels restores the beauty
of the bay and supports area jobs connected with the removal and recycling of
the ships.”
At
the beginning of the Obama Administration, the Department of Transportation
committed to taking a fresh look at the ship disposal program and the impact it
had on the environment in the Suisun Bay. The Maritime Administration worked
with local officials and environmental groups to revive stalled negotiations.
In
October 2009, MARAD developed a plan that allowed it to begin awarding
contracts to prioritize removing the most hazardous ships from the bay and
improve cleaning methods for the rest.
Out of an original fleet of 57, 21 now remain, and they will all be
removed by September 30, 2017. In recent
years, thanks to a strong scrap steel market, MARAD has sold fifteen vessels
for recycling.
As
required by the National Maritime Heritage Act, 25 percent of the profit from
those transactions is distributed to maritime academies around the country.
The
Maritime Administration keeps ships at three National Defense Reserve Fleet
sites: the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in California, the James River Reserve
Fleet in Virginia and the Beaumont Reserve Fleet in Texas. All three anchorages are maintained by MARAD
for national defense and national emergency purposes.
Source: Marine Link. 15 October 2012
http://www.marinelink.com/news/recycling-surpassed348485.aspx
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