Mothballed military vessels in Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in California that have been moored in debate for several years will be sailing again — to Texas for deconstruction and recycling.

The U.S. Maritime Administration announced it has awarded contracts to salvage two World War II-era cargo ships, the first to be recycled since January 2007. Environmental groups have long feared the rotting vessels may sink, releasing pollutants. In 2006, a company proposed building a ship recycling facility at Coos Bay to deal with such vessels, but the proposal proved controversial, with groups arguing the vessels would spread invasive species. The Oregon Legislature eventually passed a law to require shipbreakers take apart the vessels in specially contained drydocks. Ultimately, the company dropped its proposal.

There are 84 non-retention ships moored in the nation’s Reserve Fleet, of which 57 are located in Suisun Bay. The two vessels will be sailed downstream to a dry dock at the BAE Systems San Francisco shipyard for hull cleaning at a cost of $1.47 million. Then they’ll be towed to All Star Metals LLC in Brownville, Texas, and cut up at a cost of $2.1 million.

The vessels are the Earlham Victory and the Pan American Victory built by Permanente Metals of Richmond, Calif., in 1945.