Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility

Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility
Name	Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility
Caption	Mothballed ships at an inactive maintenance facility
Established	1940s
Country	United States
Type	Naval logistics and preservation
Owner	United States Navy

Contents

Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility is a United States Navy organization responsible for the preservation, storage, and maintenance of decommissioned and reserve naval vessels. It supports fleet readiness by providing long-term layup, maintenance services, and preparation for disposal or reactivation for fleets such as the United States Fleet Forces Command, Pacific Fleet, and United States Naval Reserve. Facilities coordinate with agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and General Services Administration for environmental compliance, transfer, and disposal actions.

History

The facility concept emerged during the interwar period and expanded in World War II alongside Admiral Ernest King's mobilization efforts and the construction programs overseen by Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox and Maritime Commission. Postwar demobilization following Victory over Japan Day and V-J Day created large reserve fleets similar to the Reserve Fleet (United States) and influenced Cold War policies shaped by officials such as Secretary of Defense James Forrestal and committees like the Senate Armed Services Committee. The facility system adapted through conflicts including the Korean War, Vietnam War, and Gulf War, integrating lessons from ship preservation programs used in the Royal Navy and practices from the Soviet Navy. Legislative frameworks such as the National Environmental Policy Act and statutes administered by the Navy Secretary affected mothballing and disposal. Notable events influencing operations include the 1960s scrapping programs overseen by Naval Sea Systems Command and reclamation actions during the Base Realignment and Closure rounds.

Major facilities are co-located with naval shipyards and anchorages near bases like Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, and Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Other anchorages include the James River Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet, and Suisun Bay operations adjacent to San Francisco Bay. Overseas logistics touch ports such as Guam, Okinawa, and Rota, Spain. Support infrastructure interlinks with commands like Naval Sea Logistics Center, Commander, Navy Installations Command, and contractors including Bath Iron Works and Newport News Shipbuilding. Historic sites such as Long Beach Naval Shipyard and Brooklyn Navy Yard played roles in preservation, while environmental oversight involved State of Virginia and California Environmental Protection Agency entities.

Standard procedures derive from technical directives from Naval Sea Systems Command and engineering guidance from Naval Air Systems Command where aviation-capable vessels are concerned. Maintenance includes dehumidification, cathodic protection, and coating systems supervised by personnel trained under Defense Logistics Agency protocols and standards used at Naval Surface Warfare Center. Security and access control coordinate with Naval Criminal Investigative Service and local United States Coast Guard units. Contracted work often involves firms awarded under Federal Acquisition Regulation processes and alliances with maritime salvage companies initiated through Maritime Administration agreements. Emergency response planning references scenarios from incidents like the Exxon Valdez oil spill and lessons from exercises with United States Northern Command.

The inventory spans aircraft carriers such as USS Forrestal (CV-59)-class examples, amphibious assault ships akin to USS America (CV-66), cruisers like USS Long Beach (CGN-9), destroyers exemplified by USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), frigates reminiscent of USS Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7), submarines related to USS Nautilus (SSN-571), and auxiliary vessels comparable to USNS Mercy (T-AH-19). Historic battleships such as USS Iowa (BB-61) and escort carriers similar to USS Midway (CV-41) have transited inactive facilities. Support crafts include tugboats like those built by Gulf Island Fabrication, mine countermeasure vessels akin to USS Avenger (MCM-1), and replenishment oilers similar to USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO-187). Transfers have occurred under programs influenced by treaties like the Lend-Lease Act and agreements with navies such as the Royal Australian Navy, Republic of Korea Navy, and Hellenic Navy.

Environmental compliance follows statutes enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency and incorporates remediation standards from the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Clean Water Act. Hazardous material handling adheres to guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and coordination with Department of Transportation hazardous materials regulations for transport. Pollution prevention programs implemented with the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command address bilge treatment, asbestos abatement, and polychlorinated biphenyls managed under Toxic Substances Control Act frameworks. Community engagement and public notices have involved local authorities such as City of Norfolk and San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission during disposal and towing operations.

Decommissioning steps follow protocols set by Chief of Naval Operations directives and are executed in partnership with Naval Sea Systems Command and shipyards like Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Disposal options include transfer to museums exemplified by Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum and USS Midway Museum, foreign military sale under Foreign Military Sales procedures, sinking to form reefs as coordinated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or recycling through facilities such as those certified by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. Reactivation—used during crises like Korean War mobilizations—requires overhaul plans, crew training under Naval Education and Training Command, and certification by United States Fleet Forces Command and Military Sealift Command where applicable. Legal and policy oversight involves the Government Accountability Office and Congressional committees including the House Armed Services Committee.