Navy chooses - again - to have nuclear carrier scrapped in Mobile
Plans to dismantle the former USS Enterprise in Mobile had been stalled by a lawsuit that forced the Navy to hold a do-over for its bidding process.
Chloe Mitchell 
Mobile is set to become the final destination for the former USS Enterprise. After a lengthy legal battle forced the U.S. Navy to restart its bidding process, the path toward dismantling the massive nuclear-powered vessel appears to be cleared.
A Renewed Contract
A list of newly awarded contracts released this week by the U.S. Department of War confirms that NorthStar Maritime Dismantlement Services LLC has secured a $418,497,668 firm-fixed-price contract. The project covers the full dismantling, recycling, and disposal of the ex-Enterprise (CVN 65), with work expected to wrap up by September 2030.
Under the agreement, crews will package and transport hazardous materials, including low-level radioactive waste, to authorized licensed sites. The core of the operation will take place in Mobile, Alabama.
A Decade of Delays
The former USS Enterprise has been awaiting disposal since its deactivation in 2012 and subsequent decommissioning in 2017. While its nuclear fuel was removed long ago, the ship's disposal path has been anything but smooth. In 2025, a previous $537 million contract awarded to NorthStar was derailed by a lawsuit from competitors who cited an untimely computer glitch as evidence of an unfair bidding process. A judge eventually ordered the Navy to rerun the competition, leading to this latest award—which, as noted by defense-blog.com, carries a price tag roughly 22% lower than the original.
Community and Environmental Concerns
The project has not been without controversy. Back in 2024, the Mobile Chamber voiced formal opposition, arguing that large-scale nuclear dismantlement was incompatible with the city’s vision for a growing, sustainable downtown. The Chamber remained silent when the initial contract was awarded in 2025, by which time NorthStar and its partner, Modern American Recycling and Radiological Services, had joined the organization.
According to NorthStar, the hull will be dismantled on a concrete ramp at the Modern American Recycling Service (MARS) yard on the west bank of the Mobile River. This location is near where the SS United States has been docked. While the latter awaits its own fate as a future fishing reef—a process currently stalled by federal red tape—NorthStar officials maintain that the Enterprise operation will be conducted in a fully contained area to prevent any environmental impact.
