National Defense Reserve Fleet

The National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) consists of ships of the United States, mostly merchant vessels, that have been mothballed but can be activated within 20 to 120 days to provide shipping during national military emergencies, or non-military emergencies such as commercial shipping crises.

NDRF ships in Suisun Bay in San Francisco Bay

The NDRF is managed by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD). It is distinct from the United States Navy reserve fleets, which consist largely of naval vessels.

NDRF vessels are at the fleet sites at James River, Virginia (James River Reserve Fleet); Beaumont, Texas (Beaumont Reserve Fleet); and Suisun Bay, California (Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet); and at designated outported berths. Former anchorage sites included Stony Point, New York (Hudson River Reserve Fleet); Wilmington, North Carolina; Mobile, Alabama; Astoria, Oregon; and Olympia, Washington.

Through the 2010s, the oldest, most decrepit hulls at Suisun Bay were stripped of toxic materials, then broken up in Texas, California, or Asia. Twenty of the most polluting mothball ships were recycled by 2012, and another 32 by 2017.

At its peak, in 1950, the NDRF had 2,277 ships in lay-up. In 2003, it had 274. In July 2007, it held 230 ships, primarily dry-cargo ships, with some tankers, military auxiliaries, and other types. In December 2021, the number of ships was down to 91.[1]

History

The NDRF was established under Section 11 of the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946 to serve as a reserve of ships for national defense and national emergencies.

NDRF vessels were used in seven wars and crises:

  • During the Korean War, 540 vessels were broken out to move military forces.
  • During a worldwide tonnage shortfall in 1951–53, more than 600 ships were reactivated to carry coal to Northern Europe and grain to India.
  • From 1955 through 1964, another 600 ships were used to store grain for the Department of Agriculture.
  • Another 223 cargo ships and 29 tankers were activated during a tonnage shortfall after the Suez Canal was closed in 1956.
  • During the Berlin Crisis of 1961, 18 vessels were activated and remained in service until 1970.
  • Another 172 vessels were activated for the Vietnam War.

Ready Reserve Force

In 1976, a Ready Reserve Force component was established as a subset of the NDRF to provide rapid deployment of military equipment and later became known as the Ready Reserve Force, which numbers 72 vessels. These are crewed with a reduced crew but kept available for activation within four, five, ten or twenty days.[2]

An additional 28 ships are held under United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) custody for other Government agencies on a cost-reimbursable basis.

Operations

USS Iowa (BB-61) was in the custody of MARAD in the NDRF at Suisun Bay from 2001 to 2011.
Inactive U.S. Navy auxiliary ships in the James River near Fort Eustis in Newport News, Virginia

Vessels with military utility or logistic value are held in retention status and are in a preservation program that is designed to keep them in the same condition as when they enter the fleet. The internal spaces are dehumidified to slow the corrosion of metal and the growth of mold and mildew. DC power is distributed through anodes to the exterior underwater portions of the hull, creating an electric field that suppresses corrosion and preserves the surface of the hull. External painting and other cosmetic work are generally deferred since they do not affect the ability to activate and operate the vessel.[3]

MARAD is authorized as the government's disposal agent through the NDRF program for merchant type vessels equal to or greater than 1,500 gross tons. A state agency can file an application to request title to a vessel "as-is where-is" from the NDRF for the purpose of creating an artificial reef. A total of 51 vessels have been transferred to 10 states under the program including: Texas (12), Florida (10), North Carolina (7), Virginia (6), Alabama (5), Mississippi (5), Georgia (2), South Carolina (2), California (1), and New Jersey (1). Of the 132 non-retention vessels in the NDRF, there are 117 that are being prepared for disposal.

The NDRF program can give and lend historic artifacts to maritime-heritage organizations and transfer entire ships to memorial associations through special legislation.

Reserve Fleet Inactive naval ships of merchant design, including amphibious ships but not ships maintained in a mobilization status by MARAD for Military Sealift Command (MSC), may be laid up in the NDRF when overcrowded berthing conditions exist at a Navy Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility. Battleships, cruisers, and aircraft carriers which have been stricken or those awaiting final disposition may be transferred to MARAD locations for berthing. Initially, these ships will be transferred to MARAD for caretaking in accordance with the Economy Act of 1932.

Ships transferred to the NDRF may be retained in Navy Mobilization Plans and maintained by MARAD under priorities set by the Department of the Navy. If the Navy decides it no longer needs the ship, the Secretary of the Navy strikes the ship from the Naval Vessel Register and transfers the title to MARAD. When possible, MARAD gets first disposition rights, which allows it to convert merchant ships to the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) or to sell the ship for scrapping in connection with the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, Sec. 508, and use the proceeds to buy more supply ships.[4]

Fleet reduction

Mothballed ships in Suisun Bay in San Francisco Bay in 2010. The battleship USS Iowa can be seen at the far end of the first row

The Suisun Bay location contained 324 ships in 1959.[5] Forty years later, the number was down by about 250, but pollutants had begun to accumulate in the area. Paint containing toxins such as lead, copper, zinc and barium had been flaking off many of the ships' hulls and superstructures. By June 2007, some 21 tons of toxic paint debris was estimated to have been shed from the ships, to settle in the bay sediment.[6] A further 65 tons of paint was estimated to be in danger of flaking off.[6]

David Matsuda, acting administrator of MARAD, said in March 2010 "We are moving expeditiously to remove the worst-polluting ships first and diligently moving to clean the rest."[7] Some 52 ships were identified as problematic, and were scheduled for removal and recycling by September 2017.[6] The process began in October 2009; as of October 2012, 36 ships had been removed and the disposal effort was ahead of schedule.[8] One such vessel, the SS Winthrop, the last Victory ship of the California mothball fleet, was towed in March 2010 to BAE Systems San Francisco Ship Repair dock to be cleaned of barnacles and plant matter before its final journey to ship breakers in Brownsville, Texas.[9] The hull cleaning was prescribed by the U.S. Coast Guard to prevent the spread of California species to other locations.[6] Some of the recycling work may be completed in the San Francisco Bay Area, specifically at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard—an application for such work is under permit review. Some $38 million in federal funds will be used to complete the dismantling project.

List of NDRF ships

As of September 2023:

NameDivisionHull No.Year BuiltDesignHome PortStatus
RRF - Roll-On/Roll-Off
Admiral W. M. CallaghanPacificAKR 10011967Gas TurbineOakland, CARRF
AlgolPacificT-AKR 2871972Navy CargoSan Francisco, CARRF
AltairGulfT-AKR 2911973Navy CargoMarrerro, LARRF
AntaresAtlanticT-AKR 2941973Navy CargoBaltimore, MDRRF
BellatrixGulfT-AKR 2881973LMSRMarrerro, LARRF
Bob HopePacificT-AKR 3001997LMSRPortland, OrRRF
Cape ArundelAtlanticAKR 55841997Vehicle CarrierLambert's Point, VARRF
Cape CortesAtlanticAKR 55851997Vehicle CarrierLambert's Point, VARRF
Cape DecisionAtlanticAKR 50541973G1-Dsl/sCharleston, SCRRF
Cape DiamondAtlanticAKR 50551972G1-Dsl/FCharleston, SCRRF
Cape DomingoAtlanticAKR 50531973G1-Dsl/FCharleston, SCRRF
Cape DouglasAtlanticAKR 50521973G1-Dsl/FCharleston, SCRRF
Cape DucatoAtlanticAKR 50511972G1-Dsl/FCharleston, SCRRF
Cape EdmontAtlanticAKR 50691971G0-Dsl/SCharleston, SCRRF
Cape HenryPacificAKR 50671979G2-Dsl/JapanSan Francisco, CARRF
Cape HornPacificAKR 50681979G2-Dsl/NSan Francisco, CARRF
Cape HudsonPacificAKR 50661979G2-Dsl/NSan Francisco, CARRF
Cape InscriptionPacificAKR 50761976C7-S-95aLong Beach, CARRF
Cape IntrepidPacificT-AKR111976C7-S-95aTacoma, WARRF
Cape IsabelPacificAKR 50621976C7-S-95aLong Beach, CARRF
Cape IslandPacificT-AKR101977C7-S-95aTacoma, WARRF
Cape KennedyGulfAKR 50831979Dsl/NetherlandNew Orleans, LARRF
Cape KnoxGulfAKR 50821978Dsl/NetherlandNew Orleans, LARRF
Cape OrlandoPacificAKR 20441981Dsl/SwedenOakland, CARRF
Cape RaceAtlanticAKR 99601977Dsl/JapanPortsmouth, VARRF
Cape RayAtlanticAKR 96791977Dsl/JapanPortsmouth, VARRF
Cape RiseAtlanticAKR 96781977Dsl/JapanPortsmouth, VARRF
Cape SableAtlanticAKR 55862013JollyPortsmouth, VARRF
Cape San JuanAtlanticAKR 55872012JollyNorfolk, VARRF
Cape TaylorGulfAKR 1131977Dsl/JapanPort of Beaumont, TXRRF
Cape TexasGulfAKR 1121977Dsl/JapanPort of Beaumont, TXRRF
Cape TrinityGulfAKR 97111977Dsl/GermanyPort of Beaumont, TXRRF
Cape VictoryGulfAKR 97011984Dsl/ItalyBRF East Dock, Beaumont, TXRRF
Cape VincentGulfAKR 96661984Dsl/ItalyBRF East Dock, Beaumont, TXRRF
Cape WashingtonAtlanticAKR 99611982Dsl/PolandBaltimore, MDRRF
Cape WrathAtlanticAKR 99621982Dsl/PolandBaltimore, MDRRF
CapellaPacificT-AKR 2931972FSS/SL7San Francisco, CARRF
Charles L. GillilandAtlanticT-AKR 2981973LMSRBaltimore, MDRRF
DenebolaAtlanticT-AKR 2891973FSS/SL7Baltimore, MDRRF
FisherPacificT-AKR 3011997LMSRPortland, ORRRF
Gary I. GordonAtlanticT-AKR 2961973LMSRBaltimore, MDRRF
Leroy A. MendoncaGulfT-AKR 3032001LMSRBRF East Dock, Beaumont, TXRRF
Nelson V. BrittinPacificT-AKR 3051999LMSRSan Francisco, CARRF
PolluxGulfT-AKR 2901973FSS/SL7BRF East Dock, Beaumont, TXRRF
RegulusGulfT-AKR 2921972FSS/SL7BRF East Dock, Beaumont, TXRRF
Roy P. BenavidezGulfT-AKR 3061997LMSRNorfolk, VARRF
RRF - Crane Ship
Cornhusker StateAtlanticT-ACS 61969C5-S-MA73cNewport News, VARRF
Gem StatePacificT-ACS 21966C6-S-MA1qdAlameda, CARRF
Gopher StateAtlanticT-ACS41972C5-S-MA73cNewport News, VARRF
Keystone StatePacificT-ACS 11966C6-S-MA1qdAlameda, CARRF
RRF - Break Bulk
CurtissPacificT-AVB 41969C5-S-78aSan Diego, CARRF
WrightAtlanticT-AVB 31970C5-S-78aNorfolk, VARRF
Retention - Passenger Ship
Empire StateAtlanticNSMV-12023NSMVNew York, NYSchool Ship
Freedom Star (R)Atlantic79253141981Research VesselPiney Point, MDSchool Ship
General RudderAtlanticT-AGOS 21984AGOS-1BRF, Beaumont, TXSchool Ship
Golden BearPacificT-AGS 391971S4-M-MA154aVallejo, CASchool Ship
InvincibleGulfT-AGM 241987AGOS-1JRRF, Ft. Eustis, VAInterim Hold
KennedyAtlanticT-AK 50591967S5-S-MA66bBuzzards Bay, MASchool Ship
Kings PointerAtlantic79253021981ResearchKings Point, NYSchool Ship
State of MaineAtlanticT-AGS 401989S4-M-MA154bCastine, MESchool Ship
State of MichiganGulfT-AGOS 61985Navy OcnSurvTraverse City, MISchool Ship
Retention - Other
Pacific CollectorPacificT-AGS 291970S3-M-MA-153cPortland, OROther Agency Use
Pacific TrackerPacificMA #1441965S6-S-MA60ePortland, OROther Agency Use
Retention - Barge
FB-62 (APL BARGE)PacificAPL-241944Barracks CRFSBRF, Benicia, CAFleet Support
Retention - Crane Ship
Flickertail StateAtlanticT-ACS 51967C5-S-MA73cJRRF, Ft. Eustis, VALogistics Support
Grand Canyon StatePacificT-ACS 31965C6-s-MA1qdSBRF, Benicia, CALogistics Support
Retention - Break Bulk
Cape AnnAtlanticAK 50091962C4-S-58aJRRF, Ft. Eustis, VATraining Use
Cape AvinoffAtlanticAK 50131963C4-S-58aJRRF, Ft. Eustis, VATraining Use
Cape BoverPacificAK 50571966C4-S-66aSBRF, Benicia, CALogistics Support
Cape ChalmersAtlanticAK 50361963C3-S-37cCharleston, SCOther Agency Use
Del MonteAtlanticMA 2001968C3-S-76aLittle Creek, VAOther Agency Use
SavannahAtlantic551962P2-N1-MA40aBaltimore, MDNational Register
Retention - Barge Ship
Cape MayPacificAKR 50631973C8-S-82aBRF, Beaumont, TXMilitarily Useful
Cape MohicanPacificAKR 50651973C8-S-82aBRF, Beaumont, TXMilitarily Useful
Non-retention - Tanker
Lawrence H. GianellaGulfT-AOT 11251985ChampionBRF, Beaumont, TXDisposal
Paul BuckGulfT-AOT 11221985ChampionBRF, Beaumont, TXDisposal
Richard G. MatthiesenGulfT-AOT 11241985ChampionBRF, Beaumont, TXDisposal
Samuel L. CobbGulfT-AOT 11231985ChampionBRF, Beaumont, TXDisposal
Non-retention - Crane Ship
Diamond StateGulfT-ACS 71960C6-S-MA1xbBRF, Beaumont, TXDisposal
Green Mountain StatePacificT-ACS 91965C6-S-MA60dSBRF, Benicia, CADisposal
Non-retention - Roll-On/Roll-Off
Cape JacobPacificT-AK 50291961C4-S-1uSBRF, Benicia, CADisposal
Cape JubyAtlanticT-AK 50771962C4-S-1uJRRF, Ft. Eustis, VADisposal
Cape NomeAtlanticAK 10141969C5-S-78aJRRF, Ft. Eustis, VADisposal
Non-retention - Barge Ship
Cape FearPacificAK 50611971C8-S-81bSBRF, Benicia, CADisposal
Cape FlatteryGulfAK 50701973C9-S-81dBRF, Beaumont, TXDisposal
Non-retention - Roll-On/Roll-Off
Maj. Stephen W. PlessAtlanticT-AK 30071983RORO CombinationJRRF, Ft. Eustis, VADisposal
PFC Eugene A. ObregonAtlanticT-AK 30061985RORO CombinationJRRF, Ft. Eustis, VADisposal
Sgt. Matej KocakAtlanticT-AK 30051980RORO CombinationJRRF, Ft. Eustis, VADisposal
ShughartGulfT-AKR 2951980Navy CargoBRF East Dock, Beaumont, TXDisposal
YanoGulfT-AKR 2971980Navy CargoBRF East Dock, Beaumont, TXDisposal
Custody - Tanker
USNS Walter S. DiehlAtlanticT-AO 1931987Fleet Replenishment OilerJRRF, Ft. Eustis, VANavy
Custody - Military
USCGC Benjamin DaileyGulfWPC 11232017Fast Response CutterBRF, Beaumont, TXUSCG


See also

References

  1. "NDRF Inventory" (PDF). December 31, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  2. "Ship Inventory: Ready Reserve Force Ships". Military Sealift Command. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  3. "Mothballing the US Navy after WWII". March 27, 2016.
  4. "National Defense Reserve Fleet". Naval Vessel Register. Archived from the original on December 25, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  5. "Editorial: Settlement on rotting ships a good one". InsideBayArea. The Oakland Tribune. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  6. Peele, Thomas (July 8, 2007). "State demands toxic paint from ships be cleaned". InsideBayArea. The Oakland Tribune. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  7. Anthony, Laura (March 31, 2010). "Feds to remove toxic ships from Suisun Bay". ABC KGO-TV Local News. abc7news.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  8. "U.S. Transportation Secretary Visits Suisun Bay to Celebrate Surpassing Goal in Recycling of Obsolete Vessels". Maritime Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. October 12, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  9. York, Jessica A. (March 18, 2010). "Last of WWII Victory ships to be removed from Suisun Bay". Vallejo Times-Herald. The MediaNewsGroup. Retrieved April 5, 2010.

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