APTIM completes the dismantlement and disposal of the historic SSSB facility. (Image source: APTIM)
The decommissioning of the United States Navy’s Surface Ship Support Barge (SSSB) at the Alabama Shipyard near Mobile, Alabama, has concluded, marking the end of an era.
This historic facility, which quietly and steadfastly served the nation’s nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and cruisers for over five decades, has reached the culmination of its illustrious journey.
The Evolution of a Vessel
Initially a vital section of the World War II-era tanker SS Cantigny, built in 1945, the SSSB underwent a remarkable transformation in 1964, becoming the Prototype Waterborne Expended Fuel Container (PWEFC).
Later, sometime in the mid-to-late 1990s, it was further renamed and recognized by its familiar moniker, the Surface Ship Support Barge, often called the “Triple S-B.”
This conversion marked the beginning of its pivotal role in supporting the complex refueling, defueling, and maintenance operations for US Navy nuclear-powered surface ships—including the former aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65)—at Newport News Shipbuilding until 2016.
“This historic platform was an integral part of the Navy’s nuclear-powered ship maintenance efforts for decades,” RDML Casey Moton, Program Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers, noted in a statement.
Meticulous Decommissioning Process
The extensive decommissioning process, managed by APTIM Federal Services, LLC under a $129 million Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) contract, commenced in 2020 and recently concluded in the summer of 2023.
The decommissioning of the United States Navy’s Surface Ship Support Barge (SSSB) at the Alabama Shipyard near Mobile, Alabama, has concluded, marking the end of an era.
This historic facility, which quietly and steadfastly served the nation’s nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and cruisers for over five decades, has reached the culmination of its illustrious journey.
The Evolution of a Vessel
Initially a vital section of the World War II-era tanker SS Cantigny, built in 1945, the SSSB underwent a remarkable transformation in 1964, becoming the Prototype Waterborne Expended Fuel Container (PWEFC).
Later, sometime in the mid-to-late 1990s, it was further renamed and recognized by its familiar moniker, the Surface Ship Support Barge, often called the “Triple S-B.”
This conversion marked the beginning of its pivotal role in supporting the complex refueling, defueling, and maintenance operations for US Navy nuclear-powered surface ships—including the former aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65)—at Newport News Shipbuilding until 2016.
“This historic platform was an integral part of the Navy’s nuclear-powered ship maintenance efforts for decades,” RDML Casey Moton, Program Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers, noted in a statement.
Meticulous Decommissioning Process
The extensive decommissioning process, managed by APTIM Federal Services, LLC under a $129 million Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) contract, commenced in 2020 and recently concluded in the summer of 2023.
The meticulous dismantlement involved the demolition of critical components, including the former spent fuel water pool—a massive 32-foot-deep compartment composed of 2,500 tons of steel-reinforced concrete.
Ray Duff, assistant program manager for CVN Inactivation/Disposal within NAVSEA, emphasized the project’s major achievements, highlighting the completion of site work in June 2023 and the official turnover of the dismantlement area back to the Alabama Shipyard on September 30, 2023.
Despite no spent fuel being present since 2016, the careful remediation was crucial to address the remaining 1 percent of the platform’s low residual radioactivity contained in the spent water pool and associated components.
“Our focus throughout the project was to remove and secure the hazardous material while keeping every worker safe and protecting the public and the environment,” explained Duff in a statement, “and we succeeded.”
Emphasis on Safety and Environmental Protection
The decommissioning effort, which logged an impressive 237,389 work hours without any OSHA lost time or recordable incidents, showcased a meticulous approach to safety and environmental protection.
APTIM’s hazardous remediation team operated within a specially designed structure under stringent environmental monitoring, ensuring the secure packaging and transportation of approximately 8,080 tons of waste material to a regulated facility in Andrews, Texas.
Moreover, 426 tons of ferrous and non-ferrous metals were responsibly recycled.
SSSB: Legacy and Contributions
The legacy of the SSSB, which began as a section of a World War II tanker and evolved into a nuclear support facility, spans a significant era in naval history.
Its role in supporting refueling operations for iconic vessels like USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), and USS AbrahamLincoln (CVN 72) underscores its indispensable contributions to maintaining the nation’s nuclear-powered fleet, including its mid-life refueling and complex overhauls.
Captain Mark Johnson, manager of the PEO CVN In-Service Aircraft Carrier Program Office, highlighted the decommissioning’s significance, emphasizing the Navy’s enhanced capabilities in managing and packaging spent fuel modules in real-time.
“The Navy now has the capacity to manage and package spent fuel modules into robust shipping containers as required in real time, without the need to first house the materials in an intermediate facility, such as the SSSB spent fuel water pool,” Johnson said in a statement.
This technological advancement also streamlines refueling activities, aligning with the Navy’s mission of expediting readiness across its maintenance enterprise and promptly delivering warships back to fleet operators.
“The Navy-industry team leading the dismantlement has honored that legacy, displaying the same innovative spirit that has been driving the safe modernization and revolutionary construction of the nation’s aircraft carriers over the last 60 years,” Moton noted.
The SSSB’s decommissioning marks the end of a chapter in naval history, signifying the Navy’s commitment to safety, innovation, and adaptability.
It is a testament to the evolution of nuclear-powered ship maintenance processes and the Navy’s readiness to embrace technological advancements in its operations, paving the way for a more efficient and modern fleet.
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