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WILMINGTON, NC - After long deliberation and review, the USS NORTH CAROLINA Battleship Commission formally convened on May 31, 2010 and unanimously voted to begin significant hull repairs to the ship in Wilmington, North Carolina.

 

Per the State's agreement and contract with the U.S. Navy, the State is mandated to maintain the ship. The ship was last dry-docked in 1946 and is in need of hull repairs.

 

Following significant research by the staff of the Battleship, the Commission agrees to the following:

To conduct on-site repairs by using new cofferdam technology;

To use U.S. Navy proven paint and maintenance procedures;

To replace and/or repair the steel hull plates;

To replace the "through hull fittings" blank flanges;

To do underwater hull cleaning and painting; and

To remove approximately 1.5 million gallons of contaminated oily water from the ships tanks to protect the river from possible contamination.

The long term maintenance plan to be conducted in Wilmington versus dry-dock in Charleston or Norfolk will save approximately $16 million dollars and can be carried out while the ship remains open to the public. Development of a plan to fund these repairs over the next several years is the next priority.

 

The USS NORTH CAROLINA Battleship Commission will undertake a fundraising campaign to raise as much money as possible toward the cost of these repairs gearing primarily from private contributions.

 

As the ship is in good shape and not in need of emergent repair, the Commission along with Battleship staff feels that it is critical to start planning now. In the fall of 2010, the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA will begin starboard bow repairs as template/test case with a cofferdam. 

 

Step onto the stage where history took place and experience the thrill of the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, the most decorated US battleship of WWII. Located at the junction of Highways 17/74/76/421 on the Cape Fear River across from historic downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. OPEN EVERY DAY from 8:00am to 5:00pm (Labor Day to Memorial Day Weekend) and 8:00am to 8:00pm (Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day). Ticket sales stop one hour before closing. Visit us at www.battleshipnc.com or follow us on facebook and twitter.

 

 

 

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