snakeyez
05-08-09, 09:47 PM
Naval Sea Systems Command (NavSea) has recently responded to two ship museum organizations that requested financial assistance from the Navy for drydocking and necessary repairs. In their response it was stated that the Navy is statutorily prohibited from providing direct financial assistance to any donated ship. However, NavSea can provide technical support such as the review of towing plans and repair/preservation work packages, assistance in locating ship’s drawings, and the annual vessel inspections. As many vessels have not been drydocked since they were donated by the Navy, in the near future NavSea will be sending a letter to each organization with a waterborne vessel donated vessel donated by the Navy requesting the organization’s plans for future drydocking and their fundraising plans for the cost of towing and drydocking, and these fund raising plans should include the cost of dredging. If there are no plans for or capability for indefinite preservation of the hull, then plans must be developed for the ultimate disposal of the vessel at the organization’s cost. The Navy will only consider the return of title/ownership and custody transfer back to the Navy’s inactive ship facilities if the donated vessel meets the safe towage requirements of NSTM Chapter 050, Section 9 found at www.hnsa.org/doc/nstm/ch050.pdf (http://www.hnsa.org/doc/nstm/ch050.pdf).
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So, museum submarines are going to have to have a plan for their future maintenance or be ready for the axe. I'm putting this out there because so much of the public believes that the museums receive government money, and they don't. They are all in serious need.
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So, museum submarines are going to have to have a plan for their future maintenance or be ready for the axe. I'm putting this out there because so much of the public believes that the museums receive government money, and they don't. They are all in serious need.