The $1.2 billion USS Richard, a US Navy amphibious assault ship, is on its way to the Dexes International Shipbreaking Plant for scrapping.
The USS Richard, a USS Amphibious Assault Ship, is heading to a shipbreaking plant in Dexes state for scrapping, according to the US Navy Association News Network on May 5. The $1.2 billion amphibious assault ship was badly damaged after a fire last year and was eventually bought by the International ShipBreaking Corporation for $3.66 million.
It is reported that the “good man Richard” is the “yellow-class” class amphibious assault ship No. 6, a total length of 257 meters, drainage capacity of 40,000 tons, in 1998, the crew of up to 1200 people, can carry vertical take-off and landing aircraft, so it is considered a “quasi-carrier.” Previously, the U.S. Navy specifically allocated $250 million for the “Good Man Richard” renovation project, so that it has F-35B aircraft take-off and landing capabilities, better face the next 25 years of battlefield environment.
Unexpectedly, however, on July 12 last year, the Good Man Richard caught fire at the end of the renovation project, burning for four days, causing serious damage to equipment including the ship’s island and the main hangar. Although the fire occurred above the waterline, the propulsion system was not damaged and could theoretically simply repair the upper structure. But after estimates, the Navy estimates that the repair of the GoodMan Richard could cost more than $2 billion, well above the new price, so it will have to opt out.
The Good Man Richard is reportedly preparing to cross the canal off the coast of Panama City, and because the Hornet-class amphibious assault ship is too large to pass through the locks of the Panama Canal, the island and lift sections have been removed in Santiago, reducing the width of its hull.
The international shipbreaking company responsible for the shipbreaking, based in Brownsville, Texas, is known for its expertise in dismantling large U.S. warships, as well as the 80,000-ton-capacity decommissioned aircraft carrier Constellation.
