The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Hull Repairs on Battleship North Carolina-- Part 1

From the March 8, 2011, Wilmington (NC) Star-News "Hull repairs on Battleship North Carolina to start next month" by Amy Hotz.

OK, they've been working on it for awhile now, but still an interesting article.

During the repairs, the great ship will still remain open.  A 130-foot by 10-ft section of the starboard bow will be replaced.  It has now been 64 years since the North Carolina got a good dry docking in New Jersey said the Battleship Commission's Executive Director Terry Bragg.

Taylor Brothers Marine of New Bern, NC beat out the other contenders from Alabama, Maine, Mississippi, New York, South Carolina and Virginia..

Back in 2001, the Commission announced that the hull was in need of replacement.  At first, plans were to remove it from the mud and tow it to Charleston, SC or Norfolk, Virgina.

In 2010, it was determined that repairs could be done behind a cofferdam system, a water-tight wall built around all or a part of the ship.  The water inside would be pumped out.  Repairs on the USS Alabama's hull in Mobile, Alabama, was done in this way.

The work will be done in 30-foot sections in 150-day increments.  Only the section from the waterline down ten feet is of concern.

More to Come Tomorrow.  --GreGen

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