Scrapping The USS Savannah – The Ruination of a Tanker

The USS Savannah (AOR-4), a Wichita-class tanker almost as long as two football fields, was operated by Military Sealift Command to refuel warships in the Mediterranean before she was decommissioned in 1995 and moored at the Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia.  She was eventually laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Virginia.

In 1998 the ship, now streaked with rust and stripped of her most valuable parts, was struck from the Naval Register and transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal. Over 10 years later the Department of Transportation finally signed a fee for service contract worth $515,726 with ESCO Marine of Brownsville, Texas, to scrap ex-Savannah.

The above video is a full HD nitty gritty look at the scrapping of this grey lady as featured on the television show Break It Down. Extensive footage of the ship is featured in the show including removal of the massive propeller and struggles with removing toxic items like asbestos prior to the full carnage of ripped steel.

[Via Jesus Diaz]

Updated: November 18, 2020 (Originally published February 16, 2012)

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