USS Cabot resting in the shipbreakers berth in Brownsville.

Background:
On 9 August 1998, Cabot was moved into the Global Marine Company's shipbreaking berth at Brownsville, TX. A group called Ecosat brought forth its intention to block the sale or scrapping of the ship, and their legal efforts had temporary success. Due to money owed to the US Coast Guard and others, Cabot was arrested on 26 April 1999 by the US Marshals Service, and a court-ordered auction was scheduled. All hopes were based on this auction to give clean title to the ship, with the proceeds of the auction going to pay off the debt acquired by previous groups associated with the ship. The auction took place on 9 September 1999, and the ship was sold to Sabe Marine Salvage for $185,000. After the auction, Ecosat decided to shut down its efforts to preserve the Cabot and brought forth its intentions to seek another appropriate vessel for a museum. In another interesting move, Ecosat stated that it wishes for the National Park Service to dedesignate the Iron Woman as a National Historic Landmark. After regaining custodial costs, ECOSAT stated it will commence to refund donations to the donors and shut down its effort to preserve the USS Cabot. As of May 2000, Ecosat decided it was still very much dedicated to preserving the Cabot and has been very secretive regarding their attempt. However, Sabe Marine Salvage ( in their opinion) stated it was willing to sell the ship to any interested party that presents a reasonable offer.

Plans to export the USS Cabot would be in violation of a standing Court order, which prohibits exportation of the ship due to hazardous materials aboard. Sabe Marine was to start shipbreaking on the Cabot in March 2000. Due to the efforts and contacts with the Iron Woman Foundation, all shipbreaking plans were halted to allow this new group to establish themselves and make an offer.

Although efforts are still underway to raise the necessary funds to purchase the ship, time is passing quickly. Cabot is safe for the present but her existence is costing the shipbreakers money everyday she sits at the berth in Brownsville. There is no better time to help this ship than the present. The IWF has been told by Sabe that if it was not for the Iron Woman Foundations interest in the Cabot, considerable amounts of the ship would have been demolished by August 2000. Talks and preservation efforts are still underway as of August 2000.

Click for a larger image: