Allied Defense Recycling Makes History at Mare Island
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 3:06PM 
This morning at 1000 hours , Allied Defense Recycling, MARAD and the City of Vallejo held an Open House and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new Allied Defense ship dismantling facility at Mare Island.
Mare Island, the first Shipyard to be built on the West Coast, has remained closed since 1995 as a direct result of the Base Realignment Closure Program. This event marked the official reopening of the 740 foot dry dock #2 after 16 years of dormancy.
Since SS Solon Turman was towed into the dry dock 2 weeks ago, dozens of workers have lined up each morning hoping to get hired. Thus far, Allied Defense Recycling has hired a handful of workers and will continue to hire workers, up to 100 or maybe more, once major operations begin.
In 2010, Allied Defense Recycling received the MARAD contract to scrap two ships. S.S. Solon Turman is currently sitting in the dry dock. The next ship, S.S. President, is scheduled to arrive in March. Of the 20 ships scheduled to be removed from the Mothball Fleet by Sept 30, 2011, it hasn't been said how many will end up at Mare Island.
The presentation was held inside the former periscope maintenance building. Speakers included: Jay Anast (Director of Operations, ADR), Mayor Osby Davis and David Matsuda (Director, MARAD).
Reader Comments (4)
Amy, those images are great! So glad that you are able to be a part of the Fleet's historical photo documentation. Kudos to you!
@Basim: Thank you. It's definitely a subject close to my heart, so I feel pretty lucky that I get the opportunity to be involved. I was definitely shocked to discover how quickly the ships are about to start leaving the Fleet. I'm just glad some are ending up close to home.
Amy,
I think your photos and interest in Mare Island are tremendous.
Having worked on Mare Island for twenty-eight years and being heavily involved with its history through the Mare Island Historic Park Foundation, I would appreciate one correction in your presentation. Several times Building 680 has been referred to as the periscope maintenance shop. Building 680 was the Inside Machine Shop (at one time the largest on the west coast) and periscope maintenance was accomplished there but was only one of hundreds of functions performed by machinists. I would estimate less than one per cent of the work was affiliated with periscopes.
For more information on the role played by Inside Machinists working in that building, I recommend a visit to our Machine Shop Display in the MIHPF Museum located in Building 46
I agree with the recycling program. I can imagine the benefit for the environment when we recycle.
makati condos