A Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF) is a facility owned by the United States Navy as a holding facility for decommissioned naval vessels, pending determination of their final fate. All ships in these facilities are inactive, but some are still on the Naval Vessel Register (NVR), while others have been stricken from the register.

The ships that have been stricken from the NVR are disposed of by one of several means, including foreign military sales transfer, ship donation as a museum or memorial, domestic dismantling and recycling, artificial reefing, or use as a target vessel. Others are retention assets for possible future reactivation, which have been laid up for long-term preservation and are maintained with minimal maintenance (humidity control, corrosion control, flood/fire watch) should they need to be recalled to active duty.

The Navy has been reducing the number of inactive ships, which numbered as many as 195 in 1997, but was down to 49 by the end of 2014.

The Naval Sea Systems Command's Inactive Ships Management Office (INACTSHIPOFF) is based in Portsmouth, Virginia.

There are three NISMFs: Puget Sound Naval Shipyard – Bremerton, Washington Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam – Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Philadelphia Naval Shipyard – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In addition, parts of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, South Gate Annex Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard are designated for the storage of inactive nuclear powered vessels.NISMF Portsmouth, Virginiaglobalsecurity.org Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Inactive ship facilities in Suisun Bay, James River and Beaumont, Texas are owned and operated by the Maritime Administration under the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Vessels moored at NISMFs Following is a list of vessels currently being stored at the facilities as of 30 July 2026.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

+ShipClassTypeStatusCruiserStricken, final disposition pending.Fleet Ocean TugStricken, final disposition pending.GunboatStricken, final disposition pending.FrigateStricken, final disposition pending.FrigateStricken, final disposition pending. Littoral Combat ShipOut of commission, in reserve.FrigateStricken, final disposition pending.Salvage ShipOut of service, in reserve.FrigateStricken, final disposition pending. (possibly on hold for donation)CruiserStricken, final disposition pending. FrigateStricken, final disposition pending.CruiserOut of commission, in reserve. Littoral Combat ShipOut of commission, in reserve.Littoral Combat ShipStricken, final disposition pending.CruiserStricken, final disposition pending.CruiserStricken, final disposition pending.CruiserStricken, final disposition pending.CruiserStricken, final disposition pending. Littoral Combat ShipOut of commission, in reserve.Patrol ShipStricken, final disposition pending.CruiserStricken, final disposition pending.

Bremerton, Washington

ShipClassTypeStatus Fast Combat Support ShipStricken, final disposition pending. CruiserStricken, final disposition pending. Littoral Combat ShipOut of commission, in reserve. Littoral Combat ShipStricken, final disposition pending. Littoral Combat ShipStricken, final disposition pending. CruiserStricken, final disposition pending.CruiserStricken, final disposition pending. Fast Combat Support ShipStricken, final disposition pending.

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

ShipClassTypeStatusCruiserStricken, final disposition pending.CruiserStricken, final disposition pending.Fleet Ocean TugStricken, final disposition pending.CruiserStricken, final disposition pending.Salvage ShipOut of service, in reserve.Fleet Ocean TugStricken, final disposition pending.

Past Facilities United States Naval Station Orange, Orange, Texas (1966-1975) Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility Bayonne, Bayonne, New JerseyNISMF Bayonne, New Jersey NISMF at Naval Base San Diego, San Diego, CaliforniaNISMF San Diego, California

See also National Defense Reserve Fleet List of current ships of the United States Navy List of Military Sealift Command ships List of Ready Reserve Force ships

References

External links

Official List of Inactive U.S. Navy Ships Official List of Stricken U.S. Navy Ships NavSource