National Defense Reserve Fleet

National Defense Reserve Fleet. It is a collection of U.S.-flagged merchant vessels and naval auxiliary ships maintained in a state of reduced readiness by the Maritime Administration (MARAD). Often called the "ghost fleet," its primary mission is to provide a rapid surge capacity of sealift capability during national emergencies, including war. The fleet is a critical component of the nation's strategic sealift and defense logistics infrastructure, ensuring the Department of Defense can project and sustain military forces globally.

History

The concept of a reserve fleet dates to the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, but the modern fleet was formally established after World War I with the passage of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936. Its size swelled dramatically following World War II, as thousands of Victory ships, Liberty ships, and tankers were mothballed. During the Korean War, hundreds of these vessels were reactivated to transport troops and materiel, proving the fleet's vital worth. Subsequent activations occurred for the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, with ships also used for humanitarian missions like the Cuban Missile Crisis naval quarantine and supporting NASA during the Apollo program.

Composition and locations

The fleet consists primarily of government-owned vessels, including Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) ships, container ships, tankers, and heavy-lift vessels. These ships are stored at three main anchorages: the James River in Virginia (the largest site), Beaumont in Texas, and Suisun Bay in California. The Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet became subject to significant environmental scrutiny, leading to a major vessel disposal program overseen by the EPA and the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. Other, smaller reserve fleets were historically maintained in locations like Mobile, Astoria, and Wilmington.

Purpose and activation

Its core purpose is to support the Department of Defense's strategic sealift requirements, as outlined in the National Defense Authorization Act. The fleet supplements the active Military Sealift Command and the commercially sourced Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) during large-scale contingencies. Activation authority rests with the Secretary of Transportation in consultation with the Secretary of Defense. Ships can be used for military operations, as in Operation Desert Storm, or for federal civilian agency needs, such as FEMA support after Hurricane Katrina or serving as temporary prison barges for the Bureau of Prisons.

Management and maintenance

The Maritime Administration manages the fleet under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Transportation. A rigorous preservation program, known as "mothballing," involves dehumidification, cathodic protection, and regular inspections to ensure vessels can be reactivated within a specified timeframe, often ranging from 5 to 120 days. Obsolete vessels are removed through the MARAD ship disposal program, which includes recycling, artificial reefing, or donation to organizations like the Naval Sea Systems Command for use as targets in SINKEX exercises. Funding and policy oversight involve the Congress, the GAO, and the U.S. Navy.

Notable vessels and deployments

Historically significant vessels include the SS *United States*, once part of the fleet, and numerous Victory ships reactivated for multiple conflicts. The SS *American Victory* is now a museum ship in Tampa. Major deployments include the massive sealift for the Gulf War, orchestrated by the Military Sealift Command, and the use of Fast Sealift Ships from the fleet. The MV *Cape Orlando* and MV *Cape Trinity* are examples of Ready Reserve Force ships that maintain a higher state of readiness. The fleet also provided the SS *Wright* and SS *Curtiss* for aviation logistics and supported the Army Prepositioned Stocks program.