WASHINGTON — The Navy
competitively awarded a contract June 13 to International Shipbreaking Ltd. of
Brownsville, Texas, for the towing, dismantling and recycling of conventionally
powered aircraft carriers stricken from service, Naval Sea Systems Command announced
in a release of the same date.
Under the contract, the
company will be paid $3 million for the dismantling and recycling of the
decommissioned aircraft carrier Constellation (CV 64). The price reflects the
net price proposed by International Shipbreaking, which considered the
estimated proceeds from the sale of the scrap metal to be generated from
dismantling.
The Navy continues to
own the ship during the dismantling process. The contractor takes ownership of
the scrap metal as it is produced and sells the scrap to offset its costs of
operations.
This is the third of
three contracts for conventional aircraft carrier dismantling. All Star Metals
of Brownsville was awarded the first contract on Oct. 22, which included the
towing and dismantling of ex-USS Forrestal (AVT 59). ESCO Marine of Brownsville
was awarded the second contract on May 8, for the scrapping of ex-USS Saratoga
(CV 60).
After the initial award
of one carrier to each successful offeror, 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.
International
Shipbreaking now will develop its final tow plan for the Navy’s approval for
the tow of Constellation from its current berth at Naval Base Kitsap, Wash., to
the company’s facility in Brownsville. The ship is expected to depart Kitsap
this summer. Navy civilian personnel will be on site full time to monitor the
contractor's performance during dismantling of the ship.
Constellation was the
second Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier to be built. It was laid down Sept.
14, 1957, at New York Naval Shipyard in Brooklyn, and was the last U.S.
aircraft carrier to be built at a yard outside of Newport News Shipbuilding and
Drydock Co. The ship was commissioned
Oct. 27, 1961.
After nearly 42 years of
commissioned service, Constellation was decommissioned at the Naval Air Station
North Island in San Diego on Aug. 6, 2003. In September 2003, it was towed to
the inactive ship maintenance facility in Bremerton to await its eventual
disposal.
Source:
sea power magazine. 13 June 2014
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