MarAd disposes more ships from aging James River fleet

MarAd disposes more ships from aging James River fleet    The U.S. Maritime Administration said it has released two more vessels for disposal from the government’s reserve fleet on the James River in Virginia.
   The “Canopus” and “Compass Island” joined two other World War II-era ships, Oct. 13-17, for towing and disposal at the Able facility at Teesside, U.K.
   For the past 10 years, very few ships have left the James River. These ships have become an increasing environmental concern.
   So far this year, MarAd has removed or scheduled to remove 24 government-owned ships, of which 23 of them are from the James River Reserve Fleet. MarAd is acting on a statutory deadline of Sept. 30, 2006 to dispose of these obsolete vessels.