Old ships in Suisun Bay

[FX]

Tom- In one of your posts, you mentioned the moth ball fleet.  I went there once last year and caught what I believe to be large sturgeon.  It was a giant something (nothing like I had ever caught) and then after about 20 seconds or so it broke the line.  If I remember, I had somewhere around 30 lb line w/50 lb leader.  Broke it off above the leader.  I hear that is common for them to roll and break the line. 
Anyway, my buddy and I were wondering, as we were driving through the 100 or rusty pieces of sh**, what are these things doing here?  What is the point?  I have heard these are in case there is a giant war and we need extra ships, these can be re-outfitting and made combat ready.  Tell me it isn't so!  It would take 5 years to get the nicest ship there combat ready!

 

[Tom]

You can read about the mothball fleet here and here.

 

[FX]

In my opinion, the 1st article gives a more realsitic view.  The 2nd seems to sugar coat it.  Neat to know though.

 

[Ken K]

Pretty imteresting - any photos?

 

[Ron]

Pretty imteresting - any photos?

Great idea.  Hope somebody will post some photos of the MB fleet.

 

[Tom]

I don't recall taking any photos, but here are a few links to sites with photos, although none of the images are very good:

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bgoodsel/post911/2005/01/mothball-fleet.htm

http://benicialiving.com/index.php/Pictures/image_full/38/

http://www.zurb.com/mothball_fleet/

 

[Ron]

Some of them don't look in good as shap as the ships parked in Washington near where the Mighty Mo was moored before it went to Hawaii.  Thanks for posting the links.

 

[caltex]

Some of them don't look in good as shap as the ships parked in Washington near where the Mighty Mo was moored before it went to Hawaii.
Actually, they look much better in the photos than they do in person.

 

[Tom]

You're right about how the ships look up close. One of those articles mentioned that they're more concerned with the machinery down below than keeping up the outside appearance.

 

[Ken K]

Thanks Tom. Pretty interesting -

 

[FX]

Speaking of the mothball fleet, it seems everywhere you go in the delta you will find a 1/2 sunken barge or ship.  They are all over.  I would think that whatever government agency which controls the delta would put a stop to this.  With all the focus on keeping the delta clean, it seems to me that all these old ships, inc. the mothball fleet, are a real potential for contamination.