Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Jimmy Ivy | 211015-N-EJ843-1011 GROTON, Conn. (Oct. 15, 2021) Senior Navy leaders, state and local...... read more read more
Groton, Conn. – Senior Navy leaders, government and state officials, and veterans and friends of the world’s first nuclear powered submarine, USS Nautilus (SSN 571), celebrated the commencement of a long-anticipated preservation of the historic ship during a ceremony at the Submarine Force Museum, Friday, October 15.
Retired Rear Admiral Samuel Cox, Director, Naval History and Heritage Command, joined Retired Rear Admiral John B. Padgett III, President of the Submarine Force Library and Museum Association; Mr. Bob Ross, Executive Director of the Connecticut Office of Military Affairs; Mr. Kurt A. Hesch, Senior Vice President of Programs at Electric Boat Shipyard; and Captain Kenneth M. Curtin Jr., 53rd Commanding Officer of Naval Submarine Base New London, in speaking at the celebration.
“Welcome to this wonderful celebration and momentous occasion!” highlighted Curtin. “The commencement of Nautilus’s long-awaited preservation and the very rare opportunity to see this historic ship free of permanent pier moorings and underway once again, even if not under the power of the atom.”
Hersh spoke of the submarine’s origin and construction at Electric Boat and the excitement current shipyard workers have to be involved in its preservation.
Ross and Padgett noted Nautilus’s impact and ongoing influence not only on the Navy and submarine warfare but also on Southeastern Connecticut, the nation, and the world.
Cox thanked Navy leadership for the re-investment in the “revolutionary” Nautilus, noting that the preservation will be the most significant work done on the submarine since it became a museum ship.
He then urged speakers and attendees to join him along the pier as Nautilus departed the museum, “underway” with tug assistance, and proceeded to nearby Naval Submarine Base (SUBASE) New London.
At SUBASE New London, Nautilus will complete an estimated $36 million preservation project to ensure the National Historic Landmark and Connecticut’s State Ship will return to the museum as its centerpiece and able to inform, educate, and engage the public for the next 30 years.
Nautilus’ preservation will include dry-docking the submarine at the base and extensive work to: repair and paint the hull and superstructure; replace topside decking; inspect internal and external tanks and voids; and upgrade lighting and electrical distribution. Workers from the Navy and Electric Boat, and even teak deck specialists from the Mystic Seaport Museum, will be involved in the project. The preservation is expected to take up to 6-8 months.
The most recent preservation period in which the historic submarine left its museum moorings was in 2002. For that smaller scale, 5-month, approximately $4.7 million refurbishment, Nautilus returned to the shipyard that originally built the submarine in the early 1950’s, the Electric Boat Shipyard just a few miles downriver from the museum and base.
Nautilus is the only nuclear powered U.S. naval vessel available to the public for general visitation, and when at the museum more than 100,000 guests annually toured the historic ship.
The Submarine Force Museum, at 1 Crystal Lake Road, Groton, remains open while Nautilus is away for preservation.
| Date Taken: | 10.15.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 10.21.2021 15:02 |
| Story ID: | 407728 |
| Location: | GROTON, US |
| Web Views: | 532 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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