USS Holland AS-32 Being Recycled

The USS Holland, the second Hunley class submarine tender, was removed from the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet on Thursday, July 10, 2013. She was transported to Mare Island where her hull will be cleaned, by Mare Island Ship Yard, prior to her final journey to Brownsville, Texas to be recycled.  

For me this is a big moment, as USS Holland was the first ship I ever visited in Suisun Bay back in 2010. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to wander her corridors a few more time over the years, exploring the memories and artifacts left behind by the men and women who served aboard her. 

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Docked at Mare Island Ship Yard, taken during twilight

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Just before the workers arrived to begin work on the hull 

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The bow of USS Holland in the Mare Island Ship Yard dry dock

USS Holland was built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Company in Mississippi and commissioned in 1963. Her mission was to service submarines, replenish food supply, fuel and weapons. She carried a machine shop and was capable of repairing any portion of a submarine. 

Her first major mission began in 1964 across the Atlantic Ocean in Rota, Spain where she took over for U.S.S. Proteus, restocking missiles and supplies to the Polaris Submarines.

During her thirty three years in service, USS Holland was recognized ten times for battle efficiency. 

She was decommissioned in 1996, while in Guam, and placed in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet shortly thereafter.  

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Looking towards Mare Island, from Vallejo, at the dry dock 

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The ship name has faded since being moored in the Fleet 

Read more about the USS Holland here.  

Allied Defense Recycling Makes History at Mare Island

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).