October 27, 2006

USS Intrepid stuck in mud, departure delay possible

When the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is scheduled to pull up anchor November 6 and head for dry dock dock repairs, it will take part in a day-long series of events near Ground Zero, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty as the retired aircraft carrier makes its first trek away from its Hudson River berth since 1982.

That is, if the tugboats are able to pull it out of the mud, the New York Times reports today.

Five hundred tons of water, fuel and oil have already been removed from the ship's tanks to make it lighter and dredging has been underway to remove mud. But if there's not at least a foot of clearance between mud and ship by Oct. 31, the state's seasonal dredging deadline, tugs may not be able to budge the ship. Dredging could resume in spring.

The tugs are scheduled to begin work after 9 a.m. on November 6, "at the moment when the river’s tide is at its highest point all year," according to the Times.

That's not the only trouble Intrepid faces. On Thursday morning, museum officials learned the ship's intended winter home, a pier in Bayonne, N.J., was crumbling with sinkholes and is unable to take the massive ship, the Times reports. However there is another Bayonne pier able to take the Intrepid until spring when it will go into dry dock.

As if that's not enough, the Manhattan return trip has already been delayed. Previously museum officials said the ship would return in time to take its place as the centerpiece of 2008 Fleet Week, normally held in May around Memorial Day Weekend. But the Intrepid website now says "Intrepid Museum complex is closed for R&R until fall 2008."

In a fundraising bid, the museum is auctioning on eBay a chance to ride the Intrepid on the Hudson as she leaves Manhattan. Starting bid: $100,000.

The 900-foot long U.S.S. Intrepid survived seven bomb attacks, one torpedo hit and five kamikaza strikes during World War II. In the 1960s it was NASA's primary recovery vehicle during the Mercury and Gemini space missions. It also served in the Vietnam War before it was decommissioned in 1974.

The Intrepid is docked at Pier 86, located at 46th Street along the West Side Highway. Pier 86 will undergo extensive repairs while the Intrepid is away.

Update: NY1 reports that $3 million of federal, state and local public money has been allocated to cover the additional dredging costs and the 25,000 cubic yards of silt should be removed in time to move the ship to Bayonne. The Intrepid will winter at a slip normally used by Royal Caribbean cruise lines.

Update: Intrepid stuck in mud, Dec. 8 next possible attempt

Earlier: Intrepid closed for repairs, Concorde seeks home
Homeland Security's stake in Intrepid makeover
Intrepid to close Oct. 1 for 18 months of renovations

October 27, 2006 08:46 AM in Cheap Stuff, Downtown, History, Kids, Midtown, Museums, Sightsology

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