In a surprising move, the United States Navy has recently sold two decommissioned aircraft carriers to International Shipbreaking Limited (ISL) for the symbolic price of one cent each. This unprecedented deal involves the recycling of the USS Kitty Hawk and the USS John F. Kennedy, both of which have been out of active service for several years.
The decision to sell these retired carriers for a minimal fee was driven by the Navy’s intention to cut down on the costs associated with towing and ship-breaking services, which can be quite substantial. International Shipbreaking Limited, based in Brownsville, Texas, will profit from recycling the scrap iron, steel, and non-ferrous metals retrieved from these massive vessels.
The agreement for this remarkable transaction was approved by the Naval Sea Systems Command, a sub-organization of the US Navy. ISL has previously been involved in the recycling of other decommissioned carriers, including the USS Ranger, USS Constellation, and USS Independence.
The USS Kitty Hawk, which was commissioned in 1961 at the Philadelphia Naval Yard and served during the Vietnam War, was decommissioned in 2017. Since then, it has been anchored at a Naval facility in Bremerton, Washington.
On the other hand, the USS John F. Kennedy, a variant of the Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier commissioned in Newport News, Virginia, in 1968, had a unique hull design compared to others of its era. It saw deployment during the Gulf War before being decommissioned in 2009 and is currently anchored at the Philadelphia Naval Yard. Both carriers were capable of carrying a multitude of military aircraft during their active service.
Chris Green, Senior Manager of ISL, expects that the recycling process for these two monumental ships will span several months. The extensive timeline is partly due to the inherent secrecy surrounding naval engineering, especially concerning the USS John F. Kennedy. Employees involved in the project will need to undergo background checks with the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, a process that can vary in duration from a short time to up to six months, depending on their schedules and workload.
Regarding the future of these carriers, veterans who served on them will not be permitted to tour the vessels once they have been sold. However, ISL is considering arranging a special observance for former crew members of the USS Kitty Hawk and the USS John F. Kennedy once the ships arrive at port. This gesture aims to honor the history and service of these iconic aircraft carriers and the brave individuals who served aboard them.
