Battleship Texas in serious Poo-doo

[Lonestar]

Leaks allow in nearly 2,000 gallons of water per minute

Battleship Texas closes to public while holes are fixed
Posted Monday, Jun. 25, 2012

BY RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI
The Associated Press

HOUSTON -- The 100-year-old Battleship Texas, the last remaining dreadnaught that fought in World Wars I and II, closed indefinitely Monday as staff try to repair several holes that are allowing in nearly 2,000 gallons of water per minute, the ship's manager said Monday.

The leaks plaguing the ship, which fought as the USS Texas, have highlighted the need for a multimillion-dollar plan to dry dock the vessel, removing it from the salty waters of Buffalo Bayou and the Houston Ship Channel, where it has sat for several decades.

"The ship is not as good as she was. She's leaking, again," Smith said, the frustration clear in his voice. "I think she's getting persnickety in her old age."

The vessel first closed to the public this month when a leak allowed water into areas that still held oil from the ship's time in active duty. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the ship's caretaker, had to hire a company to skim the oil before it could pump out the water and patch the hole.

The museum reopened Saturday, only to close again Monday when staff discovered water flowing in from several areas in the port and starboard sides.

"This is definitely not one leak, and they're clustered in two different areas," Smith said.

On the port back end, the staff found several holes that appear to be the result of rivets popping out, Smith said. There are three holes in one area that are almost perfectly lined up. Not far from that, water is also flowing in from a seam where two plates had been riveted together.

Though these holes are smaller than the starboard ones, they are in deeper water, which allows the water to flow in faster, Smith said. The blister tanks on the starboard side are also letting in water.

"It sometimes feels like you're chasing your own tail," Smith said.

The staff is working nonstop to repair the holes and appeared to have patched up some of the leaks early Monday. Smith hopes the ship will reopen to the public next week, but it's too early to say.

"We're getting tired in general and tired of fighting water," Smith said.

Man. I'm glad I went when I did. I sincerely hope that they get the money together to permanently set it in concrete or something. Not sure if this is appropriate for the History subforum, please move if not.

[Sea Skimmer]

The really dangerous thing is, every single watertight compartment had holes cut in it a while ago, to allow for a single common drainage system. The ship always leaked some, any big ship will so it made a certain amount of sense, and protected against capsizing, but it also means if any leak does get out of control it can sink the entire ship. Sadly fixing the leaks and the structural problems they've revealed is expected to involve serious money, enough that it will eat into the Dry Berth Fund and may force indefinite postponement of that work.

[Thanas]

That's a damned shape, I hope they manage to save it.

[Skywalker_T-65]

Same here. That's the only Dreadnought (technical one...not a super-dred) left in the world. We don't want it to sink or be scrapped...too much history in that ship.

[Sea Skimmer]

She sort of is half sunk all the time. For years her stern has been resting onto the sandbank under her, as like most warships she is naturally stern heavy. USS Olympia is in the same shape, so was Intrepid before they broke her free for repairs a few years ago, and since the bow bobs up and down with the tide this causes constant structural damage. If not stabilized it risks breaking the bottom open, thus the dry berth plan. It looks like they have now gotten the water under control, and she is no longer listing so much. At her worst she was like this a week ago.





This picture shows only part of the pumping effort required to keep her dry while they patched the main hole. They now are evaluating to see if the patch will hold, and looking for other leaks. Seems it was about a 2in diameter hole they had to plug as the main leak, smaller leaks remain and some still have not been located.

[Skywalker_T-65]

Oh wow...I didn't realize it got that bad. Yeah, a dry-dock may be the best bet in this case.

[Sea Skimmer]

Its not a question that it is, its a question if it will be done in time before her bottom is so broken up it is incapable of supporting the ship in any condition. As it is the dry berth costs already doubled from the funded amount because serious structural reinforcement is going to be required to avoid breakup. In some areas 85% of hull plating thickness has been lost to corrosion and the interior girders are not in the greatest shape. So they'll have to replate serious parts of the hull as a minimal and likely stiffing the ship internally, and when you start taking the hull apart they may find even worse damage in hard to access areas.