A south Mississippi Naval facility abandoned by the military will soon house two cargo ships that will be available for emergencies.

The Base Realignment and Closure Commission voted in 2005 to shut down Naval Station Pascagoula after a 14-year presence on Singing River Island.

Now officials say a Massachusetts company will soon park two cargo ships at the former naval base. They will be on call for the government in case of a national emergency.

Jackson County Port Authority commissioners approved a sublease contract with Darkwater Marine Services in a special meeting Tuesday.

Darkwater won a contract with the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration to maintain the two 630-foot ships on the Gulf Coast.