National Defense Reserve Fleet, Fort Eustis (James River Reserve Fleet)

 ship, place with historical importance, draw only border, United States Navy, military reserve force

One of the three National Defense Reserve Fleets in the United States, NDRF Fort Eustis began operations in after World War Two as a storage point for the large number of vessels built during the war that were no longer needed in service for the peacetime US Navy and US Government.

Continuing this role to this day, the Reserve Fleet at Fort Eustis works in tandem with its counterparts at Suisun Bay, California and Beaumont, Texas to provide vessels with military utility or logistic value dehumidification of the internal spaces, cathodic protection and general maintenance designed to keep them in the same condition as when they enter the fleet. As a general rule, external painting and other cosmetic-appearance work is deferred since it is not detrimental to the ability to activate and operate the vessel, resulting in most of the vessels appearing to be in far worse shape than they actually are. Ships maintained in the Reserve Fleet are usually held until they are needed for reactivation, are eclipsed in their logistical or military capabilities or sold to foreign navies.

For a current listing of ships held in the entire National Defense Reserve Fleet, please see:
www.marad.dot.gov/ships-and-shipping/strategic-sealift/...

The present satellite image shows the James River Fleet during the Summer of 2016.