Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Crews will begin work on the USS The Sullivans Wednesday, focusing on holes in the hull that have caused water to seep into the ship.
A fundraising campaign will continue to raise a total of $1 million.
Special equipment, barges and divers are now onsite and working on the ship's fragile hull. "We had some intrusions into the hull. We had smaller holes that grew into bigger holes, and it created problems in that we couldn't pump out the water that was coming in," says Paul Marzello of the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park. "We reached out to the community, and in an unbelievable show of generosity, started raising money to do some emergency repairs. It gave us enough momentum to begin long-range repairs starting Wednesday."
He says repairs will cost $992,000. "With that, it provided us to do two things. One, do some long ragne repairs on the Sullivans, and two, to install a cathartic protection system to protect further rusting once this work is done," explains Marzello. He says $535,000 has been raised so far, and Douglas Jemal has pledged to captain the campaign to reach $1 million.
How long the process could take? Marzello says that depends.
"Once we begin the process, we'll have a better idea of how long this will take. On paper it could take three to four months. With that, it could take into early winter stage and water temperature drops. That's when the two part epoxy system that is part of the process will need to be halted," says Marzello. "I'm hoping we can get this all done in 2021, but if not, we'll be well positioned to finish this off in the spring."
Marzello says he's concerned the process won't go as smoothly in reality as it is on paper.
"Certainly, the hull is covered with zebra mussels, and we hope as we scrape the zebra mussels off the hull, we don't cause more damage," explains Marzello. "That will be a skillful process. Bidco has rehearsed this at their own facility. It is different when you have to be underwater doing it, but we hope it will go as smoothly as planned."
Contributions to the Save the Sullivans campaign can be made securely online at SAVETHESULLIVANS.ORG or by mailing to Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, ATTN: Save the Sullivans, One Naval Cove, Buffalo, New York, 14202, or by calling the park directly at 716-847-1773, EXT 10.
