Monday, May 18, 2015

Navy's Oldest Frigate enters Dry Dock

USS Constitution Boston: Dry Docked in Charlestown for 3 Years | BostInno
On Friday, May 15, crews moved the historic USS Constitution into place to be dry docked as per a three year restoration project. The Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. it will be secured in the dry dock on Tuesday, May 19.
The 217 year old wooden-hulled frigate will be dry docked at the Charlestown Navy Yard and the work list here contains the following project points:
  • Down-rig USS Constitution and prepare Dry Dock #1,Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston National Historical Park
  • Dry Dock USS Constitution and install support shoring and scaffolding
  • Remove copper sheathing, lower hull of Constitution
  • Remove lower hull caulking
  • Remove and replace hull planks
  • Inspect and restore cutwater (bow of Constitution)
  • Caulk hull planking
  • Install new copper sheathing on lower hull
  • Undock and refloat USS Constitution and re-rig
While the ship is in dry dock, its upper deck will be open for limited visitation. A new exhibit at the USS Constitution Museum, “Forest to Frigate,” will showcase the process for which the Constitution was designed and built.

USS Constitution Prepares Move to Dry Dock for Restoration - ABC News
On Sunday, the dry dock is being flooded to allow the historic ship to enter on Monday.
The project could cost the Navy as much as $15 million. It will include re-coppering the hull, replacing worn rigging and old planks and making general repairs to the stern, bow and captain's cabin.
The ship will be open to visitors during most of the work, beginning in June.
The last time the Constitution was dry-docked was in 1995, in preparation for its bicentennial.
The ship was launched in 1797 and is a major tourist draw.

USS Constitution and Charlestown Navy Yard | City of Boston

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