The first of the U.S. Navy’s supercarriers, the decommissioned USS Forrestal (AVT 59), lead ship of 56,000 ton-class aircraft carriers, is setting sail today, February 4, on its final voyage. Weather permitting, the ship will be heading for recycling at the All Star Metals facility in Brownsville, Texas.
The Navy awarded a contract to All Star Metals for the towing, dismantling and recycling of conventionally powered aircraft carriers in October, 2013. Foss Marine Towing has been subcontracted for the ship’s towage.
Under the contract, the company will be paid $0.01 for dismantling and recycling ex-USS Forrestal, which is the lowest price the Navy could possibly have paid the contractor for the work.
The Navy continues to own the ship, until the ship has been fully dismantled, when the contractor takes ownership of the scrap metal as it is produced.
Forrestal was decommissioned Sept. 11, 1993, after more than 38 years of service.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, February 4, 2014; Image: Wikimedia