We had one of these on our ship, I am sure others did as well, but it might be known as something else. The aft store room is where we took those items that did not have a home any place else on the ship. In other words, if it did not belong on the ship, throw it over board. We did this with all sorts of garbage, TV’s, ph meters, old worn out equipment, and even out garbage.

The Navy does have rules about dumping garbage while at sea. 350 make a good deal of garbage and as a fact of life, we had to get rid of it. There were times when we would operate too close to shore so we could not throw it over the side and it would pile up. So, we would head out to sea a little more and toss it over them.

If we had an old valve or worn out pump head we would toss them over just about any place. There was more than one we were told get rid of that. Of course we would ask where I should take it. If the reply was just get rid of it, we took it to the aft store room. I am sure Green Peace would love this story, but that is what we had to do. I am sure today’s ships might have different methods of garbage disposal.