USS Ortolan (ASR-22) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

USS Ortolan (ASR-22), a twin-hulled submarine rescue ship

Submarine rescue ship

A Submarine rescue ship serves as a surface support ship for submarine rescue and deep-sea salvage operations. Methods employed are the McCann Rescue Chamber, Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles and deep sea diving operations....

, was laid down 28 August 1968 by the Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company

Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company

The Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company located in Mobile, Alabama, was one of the largest marine production facilities in the United States of America during the 20th century. Beginning operation in 1917, the shipyard is presently owned by The Lehman Group The Alabama Drydock and...

, Mobile, Alabama

Mobile, Alabama

Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...

; launched 10 September 1969; sponsored by Mrs. Nels C. Johnson; and was commissioned on July 14, 1973.

Ortolan was designed to operate Mystic class deep submergence rescue vehicles, and was the second and final vessel of the built by the U.S. Navy.

She was decommissioned on March 30, 1995 and was berthed at the James River

James River (Virginia)

The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...

Reserve Fleet

Reserve fleet

A reserve fleet is a collection of naval vessels of all types that are fully equipped for service but are not currently needed, and thus partially or fully decommissioned. A reserve fleet is informally said to be "in mothballs" or "mothballed"; an equivalent expression in unofficial modern U.S....

at Fort Eustis, Virginia, awaiting final determination for method of disposal.

On July 3, 2009, the Ortolan was awarded as part of a recycling contract to Esco Marine of Brownsville, Texas. The Ortolan departed the James River Reserve Fleet at 9:50 a.m. on July 20 for recycling.

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