A Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF) is a facility owned by the United States Navy as a holding facility for decommissioned naval vessels, pending determination of their final fate. All ships in these facilities are inactive, but some are still on the Naval Vessel Register (NVR), while others have been struck from the register.
The ships that have been stricken from the NVR are disposed of by one of several means, including foreign military sales transfer, ship donation as a museum or memorial, domestic dismantling and recycling, artificial reefing, or use as a target vessel. Others are retention assets for possible future reactivation, which have been laid up for long-term preservation and are maintained with minimal maintenance (humidity control, corrosion control, flood/fire watch) should they need to be recalled to active duty.
The Navy has been reducing the number of inactive ships, which numbered as many as 195 in 1997, but was down to 49 by the end of 2014.[1]
The Naval Sea Systems Command's Inactive Ships Management Office (INACTSHIPOFF) is based in Portsmouth, Virginia.[2]
There are three NISMFs:
In addition, parts of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, South Gate Annex Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard are designated for the storage of inactive nuclear powered vessels.[3] [4]
Inactive ship facilities in Suisun Bay, James River and Beaumont, Texas are owned and operated by the Maritime Administration under the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Following is a list of vessels currently being stored at the facilities as of 28 November 2023.[5]
| Cruiser | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Fleet Ocean Tug | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Gunboat | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Frigate | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Amphibious Cargo Ship | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Frigate | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Frigate | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Dock Landing Ship | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Salvage Ship | Out of service, in reserve. | |||
| Frigate | Stricken, final disposition pending. (possibly on hold for donation[6]) | |||
| Cruiser | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Aircraft Carrier | Stricken, to be disposed of via scrapping. | |||
| Frigate | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Frigate | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Cruiser | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Cruiser | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Patrol Ship | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Frigate | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Patrol Ship | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Cruiser | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Dock Landing Ship | Out of commission, in reserve. | |||
| Patrol Ship | Stricken, final disposition pending. |
| Ship | Class | Type | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Combat Support Ship | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Cruiser | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Littoral Combat Ship | Out of commission, in reserve. | |||
| Littoral Combat Ship | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Littoral Combat Ship | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Cruiser | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Cruiser | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Cruiser | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Fast Combat Support Ship | Stricken, final disposition pending. |
| Ship | Class | Type | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amphibious Transport Dock | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Fleet Ocean Tug | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Tarawa | Amphibious Assault Ship | Stricken, final disposition pending. | ||
| Cruiser | Stricken, final disposition pending. | |||
| Salvage Ship | Out of service, in reserve. | |||
| Fleet Ocean Tug | Stricken, final disposition pending. |