Water Education Foundation
This is just one post in the Bay Area Category
Click here to view all posts

Mothball fleet being cleaned for ocean voyage

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 10, 2009 at 7:31 am

From the Contra Costa Times:

“After more than three years of contention between California and the federal government over the condition of decaying vessels stored in Suisun Bay, work is under way at a San Francisco shipyard to clean a decaying World War II-era ship before towing it to Texas for disposal.

Chipping paint is being water-blasted from the hull and superstructure of the Earlham Victory as the 455-foot, 4,400-ton vessel rests in a dry dock. Marine growth, mostly seaweed and barnacles, has been removed.

A similar vessel, the Pan American Victory, has already been cleaned and was towed out of the Golden Gate last week for the 45-day journey through the Panama Canal to the Gulf Coast.

The work on the two ships marks a significant first in an ongoing battle to prevent decaying vessels from polluting the Bay: It’s the first time paint has been removed from Suisun Bay ships before they are towed from Bay Area waters, and the first time any pre-disposal work is being done in a dry dock. … “

Read more from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.

December 10, 2009 · Filed Under Bay Area

Comments

Leave a Reply