Navy nuclear refueling barge arrives in Mobile to be scrapped

[Tony]

MOBILE, Ala. (Tribune News Service) — A gigantic new fixture arrived on the skyline of the Port of Mobile on Tuesday: A U.S. Navy Surface Ship Support Barge that has made its final port of call.

The barge was used for dockside refueling of nuclear-powered vessels and for disassembly of spent nuclear fuel components. It has been deemed obsolete and in 2020, APTIM Federal Services LLC won a contract for the task of dismantling it, which will be done at the site of partner Alabama Shipyard. APTIM describes the job as a three-year, $129 million project.