Former Navy Warship Oriskany (CVA 34) Docks in Pensacola, Fla.
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS041222-06
Release Date: 12/22/2004 11:49:00 AM
By S. Lori Lutz, Gosport Associate Editor
NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- The ex-Oriskany (CVA 34) arrived at its new berthing place at the Port of Pensacola Dec. 20. The carrier will set a precedent in a new sunken reef program for naval vessels when it is sunk in the Gulf of Mexico next year.
Oriskany's temporary home had been Corpus Christi, Texas, where it completed a comprehensive 11-month remediation effort in accordance with the draft Best Management Practices for Preparing Vessels Intended to Create Artificial Reefs.
According to retired Vice Adm. Jack Fetterman, getting Oriskany to Pensacola was a huge step in the process to succesfully sink the ship next year.
"Getting it (Oriskany) here is nine-tenths of the battle," he said.
An original departure date was set for Dec. 13, but that time was impeded by inclement weather. The carrier finally was able to get under way Dec. 15 at 7:45 a.m
"It's been unpredictable (the arrival time)," said Fetterman, a driving force behind Pensacola's bid for Oriskany. "[Oriskany] arrived [at Pensacola] in five or six days once it left."
No arrival ceremony was held for the World War II-born carrier. The public was welcome to watch the arrival from the old Bayfront Auditorium area of downtown Pensacola. Fetterman said no onlookers were allowed into the port.
The next effort will be concerning the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) permit. "We're still waiting for the permit to sink. The Environmental Protection Agency is doing the in-depth study [to determine the carrier is free of any hazardous material]," said Fetterman. "When that's approved, we can designate a sink date."
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
