The U.S. Navy has formally begun the process to dispose of the USS Long Beach (CGN-9), the world's first nuclear-powered cruiser, a milestone that highlights the unique challenges of dismantling nuclear-propelled warships.
Unlike conventionally powered vessels, nuclear-powered ships require extensive decontamination and reactor compartment removal, making the process far more time-consuming and expensive. The Navy's decision ends decades of uncertainty over the ship's fate, with disposal now set to be a multi-year effort.
Disposal of nuclear warships is a specialized field, with few facilities capable of handling the radioactive components. The move underscores the Navy's long-term planning for its nuclear fleet, as it also grapples with the eventual scrapping of older nuclear submarines and carriers.
The cost and timeline for the Long Beach's disposal have not been disclosed by the Navy, but experts note that such operations typically run into the hundreds of millions of dollars. The ship has been inactivated since 1995 and stored at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
Environmental groups have previously raised concerns about the safety of dismantling nuclear vessels in coastal waters. The Navy states it will follow all regulatory requirements, though critics argue the long-term storage of reactor compartments at Hanford Site remains controversial.