USS Doyle Sails to the Scrapyard
The decommissioned USS Doyle (FFG-39) has concluded her final voyage from Philadelphia to New Orleans, where she will now be disassembled and recycled after 28 years of service in the U.S. Navy.
The retired 4,050-ton Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate will be dismantled by Southern Recycling, part of EMR. Work to recycle the 453-foot-long and 47-foot-wide vessel will take approximately six months to complete.
The decommissioned USS Doyle, also nicknamed the Valiant Mariner, was the 30th vessel to be constructed in her class and received her namesake from Vice Admiral James Henry Doyle, who received the Distinguished Service Medal for his involvement in the Korean War.
During her nearly three decades of service, the USS Doyle saw at least six deployments in the Mediterranean Sea, two in the Persian Gulf, including participating in Operation Earnest Will during the Iran-Iraq War and deployed to operate with the Middle East Force. Her distinguished service earned numerous awards – including the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, Armed forced Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award and the Navy E Ribbon.
The ship is the last of a six-vessel contract awarded to EMR, which operates the New Orleans metal recycling yard. Over the last four years, EMR has taken delivery of a number of U.S. Navy ships including USS Thomas S. Gates (CG-51), USS Forrest Sherman (DD-931), USS George Philip (FFG-12), USS Jarrett (FFG-33) and USS Sides (FFG-14).
Andrew Sheppard, Chief Operating Officer of Southern Recycling, said, “It’s an honor to be given the chance to dismantle another celebrated Navy ship with such an impressive record of service for our great nation.
“Our goal is to recycle as much of the material from the ship as possible, and we have invested heavily in our ship-breaking facilities to ensure that we have the right people, processes and technology to carry out specialist marine recycling contracts in the safest and most environmentally responsible manner.”