Just like it was on eBay.

But back in the day, this ship was all that.

See?

The auction ends on Friday May 4, 2012. The buyer will be required to cut up this stealth ship for scrap. Current bid is $300k.

Oh well.

This boat was built here in the Bay Area and now it’s about to die here.

All the deets, below.

Remember back when Bay Areans could espy the straight-outta-Redwood-City $200-million Sea Shadow stealth ship bobbing about in San Francisco Bay? Check this video from down Fun Diego way over at Telstar Logistics to see this baby in action.

Say it aloud: Super-Secret Sea Shadow Stealth Ship, Super-Secret Sea Shadow Stealth Ship, Super-Secret Sea Shadow Stealth Ship! This project was so secret that it didn’t make the Bay Area newspapers up until 1999, when this boat was identified as an airplane three times by the San Francisco Examiner.*

But lately, the ex Sea Shadow just sits around in the mothballed Ghost Fleet of the East Bay over in Benicia. Check out these great photos from Amy Heiden. Pretty boss, huh?

Now the first time the Navy tried to get rid of this historic boat, in 2006, they had all sorts of rules. Then they tried again in 2009 with more flexible rules. But the problem is that you can’t just take the Shadow, you also have to take the Hughes Mining Barge (HMB-1), a floating drydock boat that was developed as part of Project Jennifer. (That was the semi-successful, top-secret effort mounted by the Central Intelligence Agency to salvage the remains of the Soviet submarine K-129 from the ocean floor.)

Here’s a shot of them together, ignore the two conventional warships in the background:

But wait, there’s more. Here’s how the Sea Shadow is laid out on the inside:

The bridge of Grant Imahara’s future evil lair. (Boy, talk about a glass cockpit, huh?)

And here’s how she looks from the outside:

You want. However, nobody set up a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and take these things off of the Navy’s hands. So now an important piece of Bay Area military history (and film history what with it inspiring the bad guys’ floating lair in Tomorrow Never Dies) is a gonna get scrapped.

Here’s what came next, after the Shadow got mothballed – it’s the all-aluminum Sea Fighter, as seen back in 2006:

via Telstar Logistics

The point being is that the aging Sea Shadow is the ur-ship, the JetFire of the stealth boat world. Why didn’t anybody save her?

Check out the owner’s manuals – pretty soon, that will be all that’s left…

Ever more deets, after the jump.

*From 1999: “The combined Navy-Marine exercise included overflights of the Bay Area by the Sea Shadow, the Navy equivalent of the stealth bomber.” No, this thing can’t fly, it just floats. Veteran SF Chronicle writer Henry K. Lee got that right but others did not. Nevertheless, SFGate.com, San Francisco’s online newspaper, remains an invaluable resource.

BID DEPOSIT-SEA SHADOW/HMB-1

Sale-Lot Number:31QSCI12129001

State:CA

Current Bid:299,085 USD

Bidders:15

Close Time:05/04 05:00 PM CT *

Time Remaining:6 Hours, 22 Minutes.

Description

Bidding Details

Bid History

BID DEPOSIT REQUIRED: $10,000.00 THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE BEING SOLD AS ONE LOT AND ARE NOT TO BE SEPARATED UNTIL AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT FACILITY. THE EX-SEA SHADOW (IX-529), YEAR BUILT: 1983, BUILDER: LOCKHEED MARTIN, OVERALL LENGTH: 164 FEET, WATERLINE LENGTH: 118 FEET, EXTREME BEAM 68 FEET, WATERLINE BEAM: 58 FEET, MAXIMUM NAVIGATIONAL DRAFT: 15 FEET, DRAFT LIMIT: 15 FEET, LIGHT DISPLACEMENT: 499 TONS, HULL MATERIAL: STEEL HULL AND SUPERSTRUCTURE, DIESEL ELECTRIC PROPULSION SYSTEM, NUMBER OF PROPELLERS: TWO. (THE EX-SEA SHADOW SHALL BE DISPOSED OF BY COMPLETELY DISMANTLING AND SCRAPPING WITHIN THE U.S.A. DISMANTILING IS DEFINED AS REDUCING THE PROPERTY SUCH AS IT HAS NO VALUE EXCEPT FOR ITS BASIC MATERIAL CONTENT.) THE EX-HUGHES MINING BARGE (HMB-1), COVERED SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE DECK CARGO BARGE/FLOATING DRY-DOCK (WITH DOCKED EX-SEA SHADOW (IX-529) ON BOARD.) HMB-1 – LIGHT DISPLACEMENT: 4,585 TONS, LENGTH OVER ALL): 324 FEET, BREATH: 106.8 FEET, DEPTH: 18.8 FEET, HEIGHT OF WING WALLS ABOVE MAIN DECK: 62 FEET, LENGTH INSIDE WING WALLS: 276 FEET, WIDTH INSIDE WING WALLS: 76.6 FEET, YEAR BUILT: 1972, DRAFT: FORWARD: 8 FEET, AFT: 9 FEET, AIR DRAFT: 97.7 FEET, BUILDER: NATIONAL STEEL SHIP BUILDING COMPANY, SAN DIEGO, CA., CONSTRUCTION: WELDED STEEL, SPOON BOW AND FLAT BOTTOM WITH 18 INCH DEAD RISE, AND RADIUS BILGE PLATING. THESE ITEMS ARE BEING SOLD AS ONE LOT AND WILL NOT BE SEPERATED. IN ORDER TO BID ON THIS LOT, BIDDERS WILL NEED TO REQUEST A BID BUTTON BY PROVIDING A BID DEPOSIT IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000, AND A SIGNED COPY OF THE ATTACHED STATEMENT OF INTENT (COMPLETELY FILLED OUT). BIDDERS MUST AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ON THE STATEMENT OF INTENT. IF ANY TERM OR CONDITIONS IS NOT AGREED TO OR IF NO BID DEPOSIT IS PROVIDED, BIDDERS WILL BE CONSIDERED NON-COMPLIANT AND NO BID BUTTON WILL BE ASSIGNED. ADDITIONALLY, BIDDERS WILL NEED TO BE REGISTERED ON GSAACUTIONS(SM) IN ORDER TO RECEIVED A BID BUTTON AND WILL NEED TO SUPPLY THEIR ON-LINE USER NAME, THE REGISTERED E-MAIL ADDRESS, A DAYTIME TELEPHONE NUMBER, THEIR REGISTERED NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS. THE BID DEPOSIT MUST BE IN THE FORM OF AN ACCEPTABLE CREDIT CARD, CASHIERS CHECK OR MONEY ORDER AND ALL REQUIRED INFORMATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY 1:00 P.M. CST ON FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2012. CREDIT CARD DEPOSITS CAN BE CALLED INTO GSA AT 215-446-5065. CASHIERS CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS MYST BE OVERNIGHTED TO GSA, PROPERTY, ATTN JOHN LUBESKI, STRAWBRIDGES BUILDING, 10TH FLOOR, 20 NORTH 8TH STREET, PHIALDELPHIA, PA 19107. ALL DEPOSITS FOR UNSUCCESSFUL BIDDERS WILL BE RETURNED TO THE BIDDER WITHIN 3 BUSINESS DAYS OF THE CLOSING OF THE SALE. ONCE THE SALE HAS BEEN AWARDED, THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER MUST SUBMIT BALANCE OF PAYMENT AND A COPY OF THE ATTACHED PERFORMANCE BOND (SF25) IN AN AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $500,000, WITHIN 10 BUSINESS DAYS. IF PAYMENT AND/OR SF25 IS NOT RECEIVED, SUCCESSFUL BIDDER WILL BE CONSIDERED IN DEFAULT OF THIS CONTRACT. TEN (10) DAYS NOTICE IS REQUIRED TO SCHEDULE INSPECTION AND/OR REMOVAL. PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY. THIS SALE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 21 DAYS TO ACCOMIDATE THE 10 DAY INSPECTON REQUIREMENT. *****PLEASE NOTE THIS SOLICITATION WAS UPDATED ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012 TO CORRECT THE LENGTH (OVER ALL) FOR THE EX-HMB-1. THE CORRECT LENGTH (OVER ALL) OF THE EX-HMB-1 IS 324 FEET. ADDITIONALLY, THE TIME-FRAME FOR SUBMITTING STATEMENT OF INTENTS AND BID DEPOSITS HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2012, 1:00 P.M. CST. N0002412520001 THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY IS NOT WARRANTED. Additional Documents SF 25

Hull Thickness doc 2

Hull Thickness doc 1

Hull Thickness doc 3

Survey Reports

Statement Of Intent Click here for pricing guides. SPECIAL INSPECTION INFORMATION INSPECTION AND REMOVAL BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. CONTACT PROPERTY CUSTODIAN TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THIS IS A BID DEPOSIT SALE. SEE DESCRIPTION AND ATTACHMENTS FOR TERMS. Please contact the custodian for inspection dates and times and for removal arrangements. PROPERTY REMOVAL: Due to security issues at property locations, successful bidders are required to contact the custodian prior to entering the facility to remove property, and at times, they are not permitted to use security phones. Therefore, successful bidders must communicate with the custodians in advance to make arrangements for removal and/or have a cell phone with them to contact them once they arrive at the secured location. Successful bidders are cautioned that they will be responsible for loading, packing and removal of any and all property awarded to them from the exact place where the property is located, as indicated below. Property Location and inquiries/questions regarding property, its inspection and/or removal: Maritime Administration National

Defense Reserve Fleet

Suisun Bay

Benicia, CA 94510 Contact: Ray Porter

Phone: 360-476-3510 RAYMOND.PORTER@NAVY.MIL For inquiries/questions regarding payment, contact the following sales office: GSA, FAS, 3QSCA

Strawbridge’s Bldg.

20 North 8th St., 10th Floor

PHILADELPHIA , PA 19107 Phone: 215-446-5065

Fax: 215-446-5117 For inquiries/questions regarding contractual issues, contact the following sales contracting officer/property disposal specialist: KAREN CRAIG

Phone: 215-446-5071

KAREN.CRAIG@GSA.GOV

________________________________________

JUN04-09: Navy Re-Advertises Ex-Sea Shadow for Donation, Revises Requirements

By Naval Sea Systems Command Corporate Communications WASHINGTON – The Navy this week re-advertised the availability of the ex-Sea Shadow and HMB 1 for donation, revising the original requirement to display both ex-Sea Shadow and the HMB 1 as a static museum/memorial. As detailed in a June 2 Federal Register notice, potential donees can now either display the two vessels as currently configured as a single unit, or display only ex-Sea Shadow as a public museum and reactivate the HMB 1 for commercial use. “We believe that this change in display requirements will make it easier for the Navy to donate the ex-Sea Shadow to an eligible community or non-profit organization,” said Glen Clark, deputy program manager for the Navy’s Inactive Ships Program. “We look forward to receiving Letters of Intent from potential donees within 60 days, as requested by the Federal Register notice. Navy ship donations promote public interest in the defense of the nation, commemorate naval history and heritage, and safeguard the preservation of historic vessels for future generations.” Ex-Sea Shadow (IX 529) was built in 1985 to examine the application of stealth technology to naval vessels. The vessel was developed at Lockheed Martin Redwood City, Calif., facility inside the Hughes Mining Barge (HMB 1), which functioned as a covered floating garage during construction and testing. HMB 1 was originally developed as part of the CIA’s Project Jennifer, the top-secret effort mounted by Navy to salvage the remains of the Soviet submarine K-129 from the ocean floor. Upon conclusion of Project Jennifer, HMB 1 was mothballed until 1982. The Navy then towed HMB 1 to a Lockheed Martin facility in Redwood City, Calif., where it became a covered floating garage for the construction and sea trials of the Sea Shadow. Ex-Sea Shadow and HMB 1 were removed from service in 2006. Both vessels are currently located at the Maritime Administration’s National Defense Reserve Fleet in Suisun Bay, Calif. Interested organizations should submit a letter of intent and executive summary by August 1, 2009. Eligible recipients include: 1) any State, Commonwealth, or possession of the United States or any municipal corporation or political subdivision thereof; 2) the District of Columbia; or 3) any organization incorporated as a non-profit entity. If more than one acceptable application is received, the Navy will award donation to the best qualified applicant based on a comparative evaluation. The Navy has recently revised its ship donation application process to allow for three specific phases that asks applicants to submit documentation in three phases. Phase One consists of a Letter of Intent and an Executive Summary submitted within 60 days of a Federal Register notice. Phase Two consists of a Business/Financial and Environmental plan, and Phase Three consists of Towing, Mooring, Maintenance, and Curatorial/Museum plans. For more information about the revised ship donation process, visit http://teamships.crane.navy.mil/Inactiveships/Donation .

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