National Defense Reserve Fleet

The National Defense Reserve Fleet holds around 100 government vessels in Suisun Bay, including cargo ships and tankers for emergency use. The fleet is moored in parallel rows, with each ship maintained regularly to allow reactivation when needed.

The fleet was established in 1946 following the Merchant Ship Sales Act, when the United States sought to build a reserve of merchant vessels for future conflicts. By 1950 it reached its peak with 2,277 ships, before numbers declined through scrapping and transfer to other nations.

The fleet takes its name from the mission to keep ships ready for emergencies, with many cargo vessels and tankers built in different eras. Visitors passing by can see long rows of laid-up ships from shore, waiting in the bay for their next call to service.

The ships lie in Suisun Bay northeast of San Francisco and can be seen from several shore points, especially along the waterfront near Benicia. Visitors can view the fleet from land, as boarding the vessels is not permitted.

51 decommissioned vessels from this fleet have been sunk as artificial reefs along different United States coastlines. These reefs now provide habitat for fish and other marine life, and serve as dive sites for underwater exploration.

Inception: 1946

GPS coordinates: 38.07161,-122.09673

Latest update: December 6, 2025 11:00