Today marks the departure of the former aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk from Bremerton, appearing like a spectral vessel as it drifts through the fog. In some photos, you can observe that her four propellers have been removed and placed at the rear end of the flight deck. Launched in 1960, she faithfully served for an impressive 49 years before her decommissioning and placement in the reserve of inactive vessels, known as the mothball fleet, at Puget Sound Naval Yard.
Being the last carrier of her class to be decommissioned, her destiny lies in being towed to Brownsville, Texas by the Foss Maritime Company for scrapping. From the moment she left the naval yard, she became the sole responsibility of the salvage company.
Due to her wide beam, Kitty Hawk cannot pass through the Panama Canal, so Foss is tasked with guiding her around the tip of South America, through the Strait of Magellan, and up to the Gulf Coast. This monumental journey will be undertaken by a single tugboat, the Michelle Foss (not pictured).
The voyage is expected to span at least 129 days, covering over 16,000 miles, with three separate crews taking shifts during stops in Valparaiso and Trinidad. The towing speed will range from 5 to 8 knots, contingent on weather conditions.
At port stops, representatives from the salvage company will board the carrier, but otherwise, she will remain entirely unmanned for the duration of the voyage. Salvage crews have diligently prepared the ship, installing a generator to power interior lights, bilge and de-watering pumps, as well as the motor for the anchor’s windlass in case of emergencies.
Not only is the carrier too wide for the Panama Canal, but she also exceeds the capacity of any salvage yard on the west coast of the United States, necessitating the voyage to Texas.
Capturing this remarkable event was truly amazing, although the persistent fog made it challenging to obtain clear shots above the flight deck. Several times, the superstructure vanished entirely into the fog. What made the experience even more meaningful was the opportunity to meet and spend time with the people involved in the move. Whether it was fellow photographers, Bainbridge Island neighbors, or the incredible Foss family, I had the chance to learn new names and connect with fascinating individuals today, more than I have in the entire past year. You are all incredible, and I sincerely thank you for your time and dedication.
