The departure of the vessel demonstrates that the President and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood are making good on their commitment to clean up Suisun Bay. The departure of this ship puts the U.S. Maritime Administration well ahead of schedule in removing obsolete U.S. ships from the Bay area. The disposal schedule called for 20 ships to be removed from SBRF by September 30, 2011. Today’s departure of the SS Solon Turman puts us at 85 percent of our goal for 2011.
The vessel will be towed from Suisun Bay to the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, Calif. for recycling by Allied Defense Recycling Company.
The Solon Turman was a breakbulk cargo vessel built in 1961 by Bethlehem Steel in San Francisco, Calif. The vessel entered the reserve fleet at the end of its active service in 1988.
When: Wednesday, February 2, 2011
8:00 a.m. PST
(Please be advised that the departure date and time is subject to change and is dependent on weather and other conditions)
Where: Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet, Benicia, Calif.
Why: The vessel will be towed to be cleaned of marine growth and loose exterior paint in drydock and then recycled.
