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| The USS Saratoga. (U.S. Navy photo/PH1 Castiglia) |
The U.S. Navy has given ESCO Marine a
contract with a value of just a penny for the dismantling of the decommissioned
aircraft carrier Saratoga, but the company will own the scrap metal.
WASHINGTON, May 9 (UPI) --The U.S. Navy has awarded a $0.01 contract for
the dismantling and recycling of the decommissioned, conventionally powered
aircraft carrier Saratoga.
The penny contract was issued to ESCO Marine, of Brownsville, Texas,
which will own the scrap metal from the dismantled ship.
"The price reflects the net price proposed by ESCO Marine, which
considered the estimated proceeds from the sale of the scrap metal to be
generated from dismantling," the Navy said. "This is not a sales
contract, it is a procurement contract -- $0.01 is the lowest price the Navy
could possibly have paid the contractor for the towing and dismantling of
ex-Saratoga."
The Saratoga (CV60) is a Forrestal-class carrier commissioned into
service in 1956. It participated in the Vietnam War and was decommissioned in
1994.
ESCO Marine is now developing plans to tow the vessel from its berth at
Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, to the company's facility in Texas. The
plan requires Navy approval.
The towing is expected to take place this summer, the Navy said.
The Navy award is the second of three the Navy has given for dismantling
a decommissioned aircraft carrier. All Star Metals of Brownsville, Texas, was
contracted late last year to tow and dismantle the ex-USS Forrestal. A third
contract is in the works for International Shipbreaking Ltd. of Brownsville to
dismantle the ex-USS Constellation.
"After the initial award of one carrier to each successful offerer,
the Navy has the capability of scrapping additional conventionally powered
aircraft carriers over a five-year period under delivery orders competed
between the three contractors," the Navy said.
Source: UPI. 9 May 2014
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