James River's ghost fleet gets smaller

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Federal officials expect the so-called ghost fleet in the James River in Virginia, which once numbered 800 ships, to be down to 15 by the end of the year.

High prices for scrap metal have led to a quicker pace for getting rid of the derelict ships, The Newport News Daily Press reported. On Wednesday, the Truckee, a Navy oiler, was towed to a scrap yard, Bay Bridge Enterprises in Chesapeake.

The Truckee was the 75th ship to be scrapped since Jan. 1, 2001, the U.S. Maritime Administration reported. When 2001 opened, there were 107 ships in the ghost fleet.

The Reserve Fleet in the James River and in Beaumont, Texas, were originally set up so that Navy vessels that were no longer needed could be kept available. Immediately after World War II, 800 ships were anchored in the James.

Eventually, the fleets became derelict and officials were concerned about potentially hazardous material they might be carrying.

Sean Connaughton, the maritime administrator, said that in the future all ships will be stripped down and possibly put into dry dock for cleaning before going into the Reserve Fleet.