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Where it appears it will be hit by a hurricane this week... :11:SuPrBuGmAn:
USS Oriskany Update
- Thread starter paulwall
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SuPrBuGmAn
Contributor
Atleast you guys have a mooring dock that can withstand, supposedly, a Cat 3. Pensacola lacked that and Dennis came in pretty close right after the boat was moved.
Waahh Waaahhaa waaaa -- Sink the big O already geesh! That ship has seen more miles since being decomissioned then the last ten years of service.
mike_s
Contributor
SuPrBuGmAn:
For the $2 million that they spent towing it back to Texas to ride
out the hurricane season at a dock that is considered a hurriance mooring,
you'd think that they could have spent that money to upgrade
the dock in Pensacola.
So when's she scheduled to start the $2 million dollar tow back?
scubagal28
Contributor
Pensacola is my second home and I have been patiently waiting for the sinking. Here is an article that was in the Pensacola News Journal last week.
September 23, 2005
Section: Main
Page: 4A
Oriskany in Rita's path
Nicole Lozare
Staff
Pensacola News Journal
Nicole Lozare
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com
The "Mighty O" soon might meet Rita despite the ship's move from Pensacola to Texas to avoid the threat of hurricanes.
The Oriskany is moored at the Maritime Administration Reserve Fleet Facility in Beaumont, Texas, said Lisa Coghlan, Pensacola Naval Air Station public affairs specialist. The Navy has no plans to move the 888-foot rusted aircraft carrier that Thursday was in the projected path of Hurricane Rita.
"The protocol in the military is to send ships out to sea during a hurricane -- if they're seaworthy," she said. "But, in this case, we don't have a choice."
The Oriskany is scheduled to be sunk about 22.5 miles south of Pensacola on May 26. The Oriskany is destined to become the largest Naval vessel to be sunk intentionally as an artificial reef.
Its trip to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico has taken many detours.
The Oriskany arrived in Pensacola from Corpus Christi, Texas, in December, but the ship's sinking was delayed because of environmental testing. The retired carrier was towed back to Texas in June to keep it safe from storms during hurricane season.
Now, it faces what could be a Category 4 hurricane.
"I hope it will remain afloat and not sink as an artificial reef -- unintentionally -- by Hurricane Rita," said Escambia County Commissioner Bill Dickson, who played a major role in getting the ship to Pensacola. "If it doesn't sink somewhere, we'll get it back."
SEE GRAPHIC ON MICROFILM
Ron Stallcup@PensacolaNewsJournal.com
September 23, 2005
Section: Main
Page: 4A
Oriskany in Rita's path
Nicole Lozare
Staff
Pensacola News Journal
Nicole Lozare
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com
The "Mighty O" soon might meet Rita despite the ship's move from Pensacola to Texas to avoid the threat of hurricanes.
The Oriskany is moored at the Maritime Administration Reserve Fleet Facility in Beaumont, Texas, said Lisa Coghlan, Pensacola Naval Air Station public affairs specialist. The Navy has no plans to move the 888-foot rusted aircraft carrier that Thursday was in the projected path of Hurricane Rita.
"The protocol in the military is to send ships out to sea during a hurricane -- if they're seaworthy," she said. "But, in this case, we don't have a choice."
The Oriskany is scheduled to be sunk about 22.5 miles south of Pensacola on May 26. The Oriskany is destined to become the largest Naval vessel to be sunk intentionally as an artificial reef.
Its trip to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico has taken many detours.
The Oriskany arrived in Pensacola from Corpus Christi, Texas, in December, but the ship's sinking was delayed because of environmental testing. The retired carrier was towed back to Texas in June to keep it safe from storms during hurricane season.
Now, it faces what could be a Category 4 hurricane.
"I hope it will remain afloat and not sink as an artificial reef -- unintentionally -- by Hurricane Rita," said Escambia County Commissioner Bill Dickson, who played a major role in getting the ship to Pensacola. "If it doesn't sink somewhere, we'll get it back."
SEE GRAPHIC ON MICROFILM
Ron Stallcup@PensacolaNewsJournal.com
cmalinowski
Contributor
They apparently wouldn't have been able to do it in time. They did think about it. I think they should have just "run into trouble" while towing it and sank the thing without the paperworkmike_s:
scubagal28
Contributor
Published - September, 27, 2005
Oriskany may be able to addRita survivor to its record
Brett Norman
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com Related news from the Web
The retired aircraft carrier Oriskany, which was towed in June from the Port of Pensacola to Texas for safe harbor during hurricane season, appears to have survived a direct hit from Hurricane Rita.
An initial survey determined all of the ships moored at the Maritime Administration Reserve Fleet Facility in Beaumont remained afloat after being jostled by the Category 3 storm, which made landfall Saturday morning less than 20 miles away at Sabine Pass.
Hurricane Rita is the most recent in a long string of challenges the 888-foot flattop has faced on its way to being scuttled 25 miles southeast of Pensacola Pass as the world's largest intentionally sunk artificial reef.
But heavy-weather moorings seem to have protected the Mighty O, which is now a rusting hulk stripped of its flight deck and bulkhead insulation, from the ignominious end some officials feared last week.
"They have some aerial pictures and some human contact that show she made it through just fine," said retired Vice Adm. Jack Fetterman, who was instrumental in luring the reefing project to Pensacola.
The Oriskany's move to Beaumont cost $800,000, but Fetterman said it was worth it.
"She's not listing, and all the ships around her look OK, too," he said.
Pat Dolan, spokeswoman for Naval Sea Systems Command, which is in charge of the ship, cautioned that it had not been physically inspected.
"They still don't have power down there, and the information is still a little spotty," she said. "But we were told that the ships looked all right."
The Oriskany initially was expected to be sunk in September 2004, but that has been delayed repeatedly as the Navy pursues a sink permit from the Environmental Protection Agency. Navy officials expect the EPA to approve the permit by February, Fetterman said.
Fetterman expects the Oriskany will return early next year to Pensacola, where final preparations will be made for its sinking in May or June.
Oriskany may be able to addRita survivor to its record
Brett Norman
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com Related news from the Web
The retired aircraft carrier Oriskany, which was towed in June from the Port of Pensacola to Texas for safe harbor during hurricane season, appears to have survived a direct hit from Hurricane Rita.
An initial survey determined all of the ships moored at the Maritime Administration Reserve Fleet Facility in Beaumont remained afloat after being jostled by the Category 3 storm, which made landfall Saturday morning less than 20 miles away at Sabine Pass.
Hurricane Rita is the most recent in a long string of challenges the 888-foot flattop has faced on its way to being scuttled 25 miles southeast of Pensacola Pass as the world's largest intentionally sunk artificial reef.
But heavy-weather moorings seem to have protected the Mighty O, which is now a rusting hulk stripped of its flight deck and bulkhead insulation, from the ignominious end some officials feared last week.
"They have some aerial pictures and some human contact that show she made it through just fine," said retired Vice Adm. Jack Fetterman, who was instrumental in luring the reefing project to Pensacola.
The Oriskany's move to Beaumont cost $800,000, but Fetterman said it was worth it.
"She's not listing, and all the ships around her look OK, too," he said.
Pat Dolan, spokeswoman for Naval Sea Systems Command, which is in charge of the ship, cautioned that it had not been physically inspected.
"They still don't have power down there, and the information is still a little spotty," she said. "But we were told that the ships looked all right."
The Oriskany initially was expected to be sunk in September 2004, but that has been delayed repeatedly as the Navy pursues a sink permit from the Environmental Protection Agency. Navy officials expect the EPA to approve the permit by February, Fetterman said.
Fetterman expects the Oriskany will return early next year to Pensacola, where final preparations will be made for its sinking in May or June.
SuPrBuGmAn
Contributor
I'm glad to hear she faired better with Rita than the USS Alabama did with Katrina. The Alabama has a very noticable list and didn't take a direct hit by any means...
mike_s
Contributor
SuPrBuGmAn:
I thought the USS Alabama was essentially sitting on bottom?
that they build a sea wall around it and then pumped sand in to hold the
hull in place in case of a hurricane.
I'd heard that sand was pumped into the bilge (sp?) and lower decks,
for storm-proofing, etc, but not sure if' that's just rumor or not.
SuPrBuGmAn
Contributor
Nope, you're correct.
The Seawall isn't very high, the surge overtook it and the waves pounded the ship to a list. I guess the sands shifted underneath. The larger gangway ended up being destroyed, but the smaller one is still fine. The kinda funny thing is, the staff stayed throughout the hurricane on the ship and had all their vehicles parked on the deck of the boat. Once the gangway broke apart, the cars were stuck. I'm not sure how they got em off
The Seawall isn't very high, the surge overtook it and the waves pounded the ship to a list. I guess the sands shifted underneath. The larger gangway ended up being destroyed, but the smaller one is still fine. The kinda funny thing is, the staff stayed throughout the hurricane on the ship and had all their vehicles parked on the deck of the boat. Once the gangway broke apart, the cars were stuck. I'm not sure how they got em off
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