Officials from Naval Sea Systems Command announced Monday that they are canceling a request for proposal to perform a commercial recycling of the non-nuclear elements of the aircraft carrier Enterprise.
The Enterprise, which was decommissioned after 55 years of service on Feb. 3, was the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, and its eight nuclear reactors have complicated plans to scrap the ship.
"The Navy has identified that it requires more information to determine the approach for the disposal of CVN 65, including the reactor plans, that is more technically executable, environmentally responsible and is an effective utilization of Navy resources," said NAVSEA Spokesman William Couch, according to DoD Buzz.
The Navy has been trying to figure out what to do with the 94,000 ton ship since it was taken out of service in 2012.
The Navy is currently exploring three options for the Enterprise. One option would allow for commercial recycling of the non-nuclear portions of the ship followed by reactor compartment packaging at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Bremerton, Washington. Another proposed plan is to allow commercial recycling of the entire ship, which includes dismantling the eight defueled reactor plants.
The final option the Navy is currently considering would place CVN 65 in storage for a limited number of years, deferring the disposal decision for a later date. In the meantime, the ship is completing inactivation availability at the Newport News Naval Shipyard. A storage location has not yet been determined for once the inactivation is completed.
