Disposing of a ship is an important operation that requires a specific procedure and attention to risks. The official website of the United States Department of Transportation Maritime Administration lists four ways that vessels that are part of the National Reserve Defense Fund can be dismantled once they are no longer useful. The guidelines aim to help remove obsolete vessels quickly before they present a hazard to the environment.
Each of the four official methods listed attempts to use the remains of non-seaworthy ships for a greater purpose, thereby limiting waste. Ships can be recycled domestically, converted into an artificial reef, donated to a non-profit organization or incorporated into part of the United States Navy's SINKEX (sink exercise) program.
This last initiative converts inactive ships into targets for live fire exercises through the Navy Inactive Ships Office (NISO). Operations are legally required to take place in water that is at least 6,000 feet deep, according to the FAQ on the official NISO website, among other stringent rules. Before a ship is used in this capacity, it first has to be cleaned and inspected to ensure that there are no pollutants onboard, including polychlorinated biphenyls.
Whichever method is chosen for ship disposal, the Maritime Administration is authorized to use funds to dispose of ships in the most harmless possible way. Since 2001, this administration has used special financial resources to help develop its recycling efforts under the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act.
When selecting a boat insurance package, owners and operators should give thought to how their vessels will eventually end up and what there options are. Different regulations may apply fdepending on the case, but in all situations it's advisable to study all of the government rules for ideas of how to proceed.