[nikimcbee]

From an e-mail I recieved:

Historic Naval Ships Association


Post Office Box 401


Smithfield, Virginia 232431-0401


(757) 356-9422 FAX (757) 356-9433


hnsa01@aol.com

22 June 2012

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MEMORANDUM 16-12

USS Texas Current Status: As of 22 June 2012
·Assessment and dewatering of other flooded tanks is complete and a few other minor leaks were found and patched
·Oil cleanup operations continues throughout the day.
·Salvage and dive team has completed their emergency repairs and are packing up equipment.
Next Steps:
·Ship will be monitored around the clock until Sunday evening.
·Clean up of oil will continue on a Monday –Friday basis.
·Salvage and dive team will provide final reports of work completed and a “Salvage Plan” focusing on any further actions we should take.
·Ship will be closed the remainder of Friday Jun 22nd but we plan on opening back up on Saturday- access below 3rd deck will be restricted until oil clean-up is complete.

I have had a few more questions and thought the below might be useful to all:

What’s the status this morning? I’m gathering the C-94F patch is for the 2-inch hole you mentioned. What are the leaks in the blister tanks and the aft trim tanks? How serious are they? Will they require patches? We have had minor leaks (less than 10 gpm) in many blister tanks around the ship (blister are the most outboard tanks that were added to the ship in 1925-27 and do not “communicate” by design with the inboard tanks/rest of the ship). Also, our Aft trim tank has had a leak we did a temporary patch on about 4 years ago that seeps a very manageable flow of water into the ship. Long term these need to be addressed but are not immediate needs or part of this emergency situation- they are exacerbated by and exacerbated the situation, but they kind of thing we deal with on a regular basis
Are you planning to put a more robust patch on the main leak?That should be determine as part of the Salvage Plan- our emergency is controlled, now we have time to evaluate and develop an intermediate plan that could include that.
When do you think the ship will reopen to visitorsWe will reopen on Saturday, but with have 3rd deck and below closed until we are finished with all the oil clean-up
Will the oil cleanup be finished today? You had indicated you’re now degreasing and power washing….is that in fact your status?We are not sure when it will be complete- they will be cleaning into next week at a minimum
When your divers were searching for leaks, did they note the general condition of the ship’s bottom? If so,what is the condition?General condition is very corroded and lots of marine growth- bottom line, this type of leak could occur again, in another spot, at any time.
Thanks!
Andy

News Release
Media Contact: Mike Cox, 512-389-8046, mike.cox@tpwd.state.tx.us
June 22, 2012
Battleship Texas reopening after repairs

HOUSTON — The Battleship Texas, closed for a week to allow a salvage company time to repair a leak that the historic vessel developed June 9, will be open to the public again starting Saturday.
“We closed the ship last week so that divers could locate and repair the leak,” said Andy Smith, Battleship Texas State Historical Site superintendent. “That has been done and we plan on reopening the Texas in time for weekend visitors to enjoy exploring this century-old vessel.”
Smith said pumping of water from the ship has been completed and that it has not taken on any new water in more than 48 hours.
While the leak has been patched, efforts are ongoing to clean the remaining oil disturbed by the flooding -therefore all areas below the Second Deck will be closed to facilitate this until further notice.
TPWD has been working for some time toward the permanent dry-berthing of the ship, with details of that available at www.dryberthTEXAS.com
If a dry-berth solution that the department can afford cannot be found, Smith said TPWD will shift its efforts to repairing the ship in place.
2012-06-22