Battleship Missouri - Friends of the Mighty MO
Battleship Missouri - Friends of the Mighty MO
USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 879, Aiea, Hawaii 96701
Phone: (808)423-2263
Email: bigmo@ussmissouri.org
Web: www.USSMissouri.org

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Engineering Updates



February 2012 --News from our Engineering Department

Preservation work is accelerating in 2012. We are accelerating the pace of replacing the Teak Decking by doubling the size of the Teak Crew. We are accelerating preservation of Weather Deck and Topside spaces by hiring more staff to preserve rusted areas and replace structure where the rusting has gotten out of hand. In addition to these extra actions by the USS Missouri Crew, the Chief Petty Officer’s Associations for Hawaii Commands have made USS Missouri their Community Service Project for 2012. Teams of CPOs are “adopting” spaces, gun mounts, staterooms, and topside areas to preserve and restore them. All in all, the ship will look much more like an “Active Duty Flagship” by the end of 2012.

Safety and Security have also greatly improved. All Hands Training has been conducted, and drills will soon commence. The Ship is being inspected zone-by-zone, and materiel deficiencies and safety hazards are being corrected continuously.

December 2011 --News from our Engineering Department

Reynolds Recycling has honored the Battleship Missouri Memorial with the 2011 Green Leaders Award for our long-standing and effective beverage container recycling program. As a result of our efforts, more than 13 tons of recyclable material have been diverted from the waste stream, saving over 91 cubic yards of landfill space since 2006 and collecting over 500,000 bottles and cans.

“The USS Missouri has always been on the front lines protecting our country’s freedom, and they continue to protect and preserve our natural resources and our way of life for future generations through their ongoing commitment to recycling,” said Terry Telfer, president of Reynolds Recycling.

In an effort to recognize outstanding businesses, groups and individuals in Hawaii who are protecting and preserving our natural resources through recycling, Reynolds Recycling launched its Annual Green Leaders Award Program in 2009 and has honored such groups as the Outrigger Enterprise Group and the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii.

Since expanding our beverage container recycling program in 2006, the Battleship Missouri Memorial has diverted virtually an entire football field of plastic from Honolulu’s landfill. We would like to thank our volunteers and staff, such as the Missouri’s Pier and Facilities Supervisor Henry “Kimo” James and his team, for their commitment to “reduce, reuse, recycle” principles, as well as Reynolds Recycling for recognizing our efforts and promoting effective recycling efforts in the Islands.

In a way, the Battleship Missouri Memorial is the ultimate expression of reuse. The opening of the Battleship Missouri Memorial in 1999 represented the transformation of an 887-foot, 55,000-ton steel battleship into an economic engine, employing more than 150 fulltime and part-time employees.

August 2011 --News from our Engineering Department

As the year draws closer to an end, the Engineering Department is continuing to strive and push forward to enhance shipboard preservation and offer support to various departments. During the months of July and August we were able to complete the final two major capital projects, which now brings us to being 100 percent completion of our 2011 goals. To keep the ball rolling, we have already started generating RFP’s for new capital projects for the upcoming year.

In an effort to ensure we are placing a priority on our main focus, shipboard preservation, we are continuing to complete zone inspections and are generating work orders as we go along. Details of the work orders can be found on our department dashboard.

Ongoing Work:
The Engineering Department is still continuing to work with CIMTEC in regards to getting the sensors and the program online and running properly. Currently the representative from CIMTEC, Stan Baker, has to undergo a couple more medical procedures followed by a follow-up medical appointment to ensure it is safe for him to fly over and provide a select group hands on training with the system.

The Teak Crew is also continuing to push forward with the teak deck restoration, on ongoing, multiyear project. They recently had a visit from Teak Decking Systems and accomplished the following:

  • 185 linear feet of  damaged seam removed and replaced
  • 262 square feet of SIKA 352 Transfloor laid
  • 140 square feet of new teak deck laid and caulked
  • 846 square feet of deck sanded with drum sander

August 2011 --News from our Engineering Department

Battleship Missouri’s debut on the big screen

The Battleship Missouri Engineering Department would like to once again thank all those who played a role in the ship’s drydocking from October 2009 to January 2010. Looking nearly better than ever, the ship was primed for renewed visitation … not to mention major roles in film and TV projects that directly resulted from the ship’s availability prior to reopening last year and her outstanding appearance.

The latest example of this is the teaser trailer for Universal Pictures “Battleship” movie, which was just launched in late July. If you look closely, you’ll see several shots of a very familiar battleship.


The movie looks like it will be a lot of fun for moviegoers, which of course is the film studio’s first priority. But for the Battleship Missouri Memorial and the State of Hawaii, projects such as this provide an opportunity to increase not just national but international awareness of the Missouri as a historic attraction and her legacy.

Visit the movie website and see the teaser trailer here.

June 2011 --News from our Engineering Department

Preservation of the Bridge

The last two months have been very busy aboard the Battleship Missouri. Among the many projects that have been completed in this time was the preservation of the bridge. This included removing the deck matting and repairing, grouting and installation of non skid bridge decking material. Two other projects of note were the removal of four links in the mooring chain and the fabrication and installation of stainless steel handrails on the port and starboard sides of 05 level. These last two projects really typify our ongoing commitment to safety and efficiency.

April 2011 --News from our Engineering Department

Brass Model

The Battleship Missouri Memorial is pleased to announce that we have found a permanent home for the 20 x 6-inch model of the Iowa class. The memorial learned about the availability of the Iowa class model via the director of the Historic Naval Ships Association. The memorial eventually signed a loan agreement back in July 2000 with the Department of the Navy, Space and Naval Welfare Systems Center (SPARWARSYSCEN) in San Diego, CA. Per the agreement, the memorial is required to protect and preserve the model and, in the event the model is damage, the memorial is responsible for the full cost of reimbursement to SPARWARSYSCEN. Before the model was returned to the Missouri, it was displayed in several different locations at the Honolulu International Airport as a way to attract visitors to visit the ship. However, after 10 years of being displayed at the airport, the memorial is now able to bring it back and display it at Pier Foxtrot-5, complete with a new case made for it by the ship’s carpenter and his crew.

February 2011 --News from our Engineering Department

Firearms honor the Mighty Mo’s heroic past

What do you get the battleship that has everything? Something with firepower, of course.

Just in time for Christmas last year, a 40mm quad gun was delivered to the Battleship Missouri Memorial from Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, “home of the USS Yorktown,” in South Carolina.

The 40mm quad is an old friend of sorts. It was one of two quads traced back to the USS Missouri that, until recently, guarded the Patriot’s Point entrance. Former USS Missouri crewmembers had arranged to have the guns placed at Patriot’s Point well before the decommissioned Missouri opened in 1999 as a memorial in Pearl Harbor. This year, the two historic attractions teamed up to secure permission from the Naval Heritage and History Command, who owns the guns, to have one of the WWII-era quads returned to the Missouri on extended loan.

During World War II and the Korean War, the USS Missouri had 20 40mm quad mounts and 49 20mm guns, all of which were removed during modernization in the 1980s, replaced with four Vulcan/Phalanx 20mm Gatling guns. Through the Missouri, we are uniquely able to portray the evolution of defense technology. For example, the 40mm quad mount will be installed on the main pier, within view of the modern CIWS gun mount that made the 40mm and 20mm anti-aircraft guns obsolete prior to action in Operation Desert Storm.”

The 40mm anti-aircraft gun has a unique history of it own, as it was one of a very few types of weapon systems used by both sides in World War II. Manufactured by neutral Sweden, it was used on almost every major U.S. warship. Known for its efficiency, the 40mm proved itself in close-in air defense until outflanked by the Kamikaze attacks in the final months of WWII. Each twin 40mm fired 160 rounds per minute, per barrel effectively up to 4,000 yards. The quad’s seven-man crew included a gun captain, pointer, trainer, two first-loaders and two second-loaders.

Other historical items with ties to the Missouri, such as the “Surrender Plaque” (marking the site of Japan’s World War II surrender) and ship’s bell are similarly on extended loan to the memorial. Just last month, the Missouri’s “defenses” received a boost in the form of eight .50-caliber machine guns from the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, Indiana. They were restored to their original mount locations around the perimeter of the Missouri’s main deck as a tribute to a time when formal Marine Detachments

(MARDETs) served on Navy ships as dedicated units.

December 2010 --News from our Engineering Department

Teak restoration, facility repairs and improvements keep the USS Missouri looking shipshape

The Engineering Department’s ongoing maintenance projects are underway and making rapid progress. Both The Historic Hawaii Foundation and the State of Hawaii Preservation offices have reviewed and approved our process and procedures for our Teak Restoration project. We have, since then, hired a Ship’s Carpenter, Brett Palmer, and he and his crew have hit the deck plates running.

Working with our Curator, we now have signage depicting the evolution of the ship teak decking from the original installation in the 1940s, re-commissioning in the 1980s, and the present day process.

We have also posted signage on a portion of the ship’s original commissioned teak deck. The process is slow and laborious; however, we are making progress and are excited to see the ship’s decks come back to life.

Another project that has kept my department busy is repairs to the forward smoke stack air funnel and its drainage. This project not only enhances the ships appearance but its repair was vital to control flooding into the engine rooms.

We have also completed the installation of the tank monitoring system. This system eliminates the long and arduous task of sounding each tank and is an integral part in the preservation of the ship in perpetuity.
Our Operations team was busy replacing the surrender, flag, and quarter deck awnings.

One of the most noticeable improvements and one my first goals upon arrival, that became a reality, was the replacement of the nylon mooring lines and the installation of mooring chain. The striking and bold chain brings out the might of the battleship and keeps it safe and permanently in our moor at Foxtrot 5.  Its functional and aesthetic decor is fitting to our mission.

The projects for 2011 are in the process of being planned and I am looking fwd to seeing them commence. A few projects that we have in the works are:  replacing the deck grading on the bridge wings, repainting the bridge, various pier improvements to enhancement our visitor experience, and installation of one of the ship’s quad 40 mm guns.


The ongoing challenges of maintaining the Mighty Mo, in a fashion fitting her past and what she represents, keeps the engineering staff busy. I would like to thank our many Volunteers for their ongoing support. From shining brass, cleaning gunnel drains, chipping, painting and the dedicated folks working on our teak deck. Bravo Zulu Ron Chavez, Chief Engineer.

October 2010 --News from our Engineering Department

Now that drydocking and several other capital projects are complete, the memorial’s staff and volunteers are looking ahead to what’s next on the horizon.

Part of that picture is the complete restoration of the 66-year-old battleship’s aging teak deck. The Mighty Mo is looking for a few good men and women interested in joining the exclusive Teak Deck Crew. These individuals undergo training in all relevant areas of the teak decking application processes and procedures on battleships.

For more information about volunteering, contact Keven Williamson at (808) 455-1600, ext. 224. For those who are unable to volunteer their time at the Missouri but want to help in some way, they need only visit. Every dollar spent at the Battleship Missouri Memorial goes back to the maintenance and preservation of the ship. That includes the Teak Deck Restoration Project.

Read more about how the Battleship Missouri Memorial is replacing 1.2 acres of the storied battleship's teak planking in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser

September 2010 --News from our Engineering Department

The Mighty Mo is being spruced up for several upcoming events, ranging from the 65th anniversary of World War II, to filming for TV and movie projects.
 
The latest enhancements include the addition of black chains, each weighing several tons, to replace the ship’s nylon mooring lines. Installing the chains was no easy task, but we are happy to report that we accomplished the task responsibly and safely.

Also, a 32-foot gig, a small boat used on naval ships as the Captain’s taxi, was lifted into place on the ship’s starboard side. This was one of two boats repaired and restored while the Missouri was away in drydock. Both are now in their boat skids as permanent parts of the Missouri’s new profile, just in time for the WWII 65th anniversary.

Soon after Commemoration Week, Universal Pictures is scheduled to temporarily close the Missouri for a few days to film scenes for “Battleship,” a movie being directed by Peter Berg and based on the Hasbro board game. (Closure dates will be announced.) The film crew is drawing on the knowledge and experience of our Engineering Department to help them accurately and safely bring several of the ship’s spaces to life, or at least appear to do so on-screen.
In addition, the Missouri will be making significant cameo appearance in the TV pilot episode of “Hawaii Five-0.” A reboot of the 1970s TV show of the same name, Hawaii Five-0 will begin airing this fall on CBS.

Keep your eyes pealed for the Mighty Mo, coming soon to a screen near you!


June 2010 -- Smart GeoMetrics

The USS Missouri Memorial Association and Smart GeoMetrics, a division of Smart MultiMedia, Inc., both made and captured history in January by fully laser imaging the Battleship Missouri’s exterior at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

The Association asked the company to utilize its knowledge and industry-leading expertise to, for the first time ever, scan the entire hull of a historic battleship.

Smart GeoMetrics and its team had a very small three-day window to scan the vessel as scaffolding and protective covers were removed before exiting drydock. Two teams and four Leica HD laser scanners were used to complete the project, along with an additional crew charged with maintaining a control network.  

Laser scanning the Missouri while in drydock truly was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use this state-of-the-art technology to provide a definitive historical record. There is no way to complete an accurate scan of a ship of this size while its in the water. Not only is it impossible to image areas below the waterline, even on a calm day minute movements of the water and ship would degrade scan accuracy.

Preliminary images are featured in this e-newsletter. The data is also being used to generate highly detailed animation, holograms and as source material in an upcoming movie focusing on battleships.

April 2010 -- Crews Head Conversion

The forward boarding brow has been reinstalled, making it possible for visitors to board via two brows located both forward and aft.

In addition, the aft male head on the main deck has been converted into two ADA heads — one for males and one for females. These heads come fully equipped with brand new toilets, sinks, partitions, hand dryers, a baby changing station and automatic ADA doors. This new addition enhances the comfort for our visitors. 

February 2010 -- News from our Engineering Department

Submitted by Ronald Chavez, Chief Engineering Officer, Battleship Missouri Memorial

On the morning of Jan. 7, 2010, the USS Missouri’s hull was once again awash and floating on the Pacific Ocean. She was gently and methodically pulled out of Drydock 4 at Pearl Harbor’s Naval Shipyard and towed to her permanent home at Battleship Row, where she now stands guard over her fallen sister, the USS Arizona.

As in any “drydocking” and repair/maintenance evolution, there are challenges consisting of peaks and valleys. The frustrations, blood, sweat and tears shed were insignificant compared to seeing the ship with her shiny new paint, new 014 level platform, phenomenal material condition of the hull, coupled with a state of the art ICCP system and a host of other preservation projects that were completed.

The Mighty Mo now has a new lease on life. Our Engineering and Operations staff working side by side with the U.S. Navy, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and “Team Hawaii” led by BAE Systems, performed superbly in completing an arduous 90-day, extensive and complex task of docking, repairing and undocking this ship within budget and on schedule. I am very pleased, honored and above all humbled to be afforded the privilege of taking part of this historic task.

Les Lancaster, our Operations Officer, not only assisted in managing all phases of the drydocking project, but also spearheaded the pier renovations, our new VOC, small boat and pier facilities restoration projects.

Ralph Schmidt, our Chief Machinist, took on the daunting task of ballasting the ship in preparation for the docking evolution. His expertise and diligence in monitoring the underwater hull during two critical refloating phases of the project was outstanding.

Patrick Adaro’s can do attitude and ability to multitask were key to many successes during the docking. In particular, he managed his staff and over 150 volunteers where he flawlessly and skillfully moored the ship back to Ford Island.

From the Chief Engineering Officer, I want to thank my staff for the hard work and dedication they displayed under strenuous conditions. They performed SUPERBLY!

For more drydock photos, please visit http://www.mightymomembers.org/multimedia.

December 2009 -- News from our Engineering Department:
Overview of Drydocking

BAE Systems and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard delivered a battleship-size gift to the non-profit USS Missouri Memorial Association just in time for Christmas. The Battleship Missouri, which had been encased in approximately 4 acres of plastic for most of the last month for extensive sandblasting work, was unwrapped this week for repositioning in drydock.

November 2009 -- News from our Engineering Department:
Overview of Drydocking

Drydock work is officially underway! As you know, the Battleship Missouri left Pier Foxtrot-5 via tugboats on Oct. 14. We are pleased to say that it was a smooth operation with no incidents to report.

While in drydock, the ship will undergo three months of rigorous restoration. The project will include an array of tasks such as sandblasting the hull, painting and welding, continuing with the installation of dehumidification units, and much more.


On behalf of the Engineering and Operations Department, we would like to extend a MIGHTY “thank you” to all those involved, who helped make the move possible and successful. These include:

NIOC
SEABEES
USS Chung Hoon
NAVFLEET
NAVFAC Self Help
NAVSTA Pearl Harbor
NAVFAC
USN Security
CPO Legacy
NCTAMS/PACOM
USS Bremerton
Chicago ICC
Naval Health Clinic
ATG MidPac

We invite you to read about our “Mighty Move” and “Mighty Makeover” in the following news articles:

The Mighty Move (The Honolulu Advertiser)

Mighty Makeover (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)

October 2009 -- News from our Engineering Department:
Overview of Drydocking

Shortly before sunrise on Wednesday, Oct. 14, the Battleship Missouri will leave her pierside home for the first time in more than a decade for towing into drydock and extensive maintenance and preservation work.

It will be a short trip only in distance. The two-mile journey will take approximately 10 hours from casting off from Pier Foxtrot-5 to entering Drydock No. 4 and full evacuation of water from the facility. By sunset, the battleship’s formidable hull will be visible outside of water for the first time since 1992, when she was last drydocked just after her second and final decommissioning.

Due to the length of the towing process, access on the ship during the transport process will be strictly limited. However, scenic points for residents, visitors and media will be designated near the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum.

Towing on Oct. 14 will include the following “checklist” items:

• Moorings carried up port/starboard
• Bow clears gates (Missouri will enter drydock stern first)
• Vessel stopped making headway inside the dock
• Dock gates closed
• Moorings checked to hold vessel
• Moorings adjusted to align ship fore and aft
• Dock pumps commenced pumping out dock water
• Block contact made and vessel enters critical period
• Vessel sewed on blocks fore and aft
• Side shores passed to port and starboard
• Residual water cleared from dock
• Gangway access landed between shore and ships side
• Gangway walkable
• Pilot dismissed
• Pumping of the dock complete and dock floor walkable

On the following day, shipyard workers will continue setting the environment and begin large-scale encapsulation of the ship. Then sand blasting, inspection and hull repairs will commence, taking up the bulk of the work. By mid-December, preservation work will begin to fortify the ship’s underwater hull and superstructure against the elements for the next several decades. Additional work will be performed in conjunction with the project to capitalize on cost-savings and efficiencies that the drydocking provides.

Missouri’s exit from drydock and return is tentatively scheduled on Jan. 7, at which time “re-launching” and re-opening festivities will be announced.

For additional information, read the recent article about the Missouri’s drydocking featuring in USA Today< http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2009-09-27-ussmissouri_N.htm>.

August 2009 -- News from our Engineering Department

Many of our visitors have already noticed the beginning of pre-drydock work. This is most noticeable on the starboard side of the ship and upper superstructure, where scaffolding and limited encapsulation has begun

Additionally, on the fantail, the Teak Deck Crew is foraging ahead and has kicked into full swing, with approximately one third of the fantail teak completed, another third under refurbishment, and the remaining third soon to be tackled.

In the meantime, the Battleship Missouri Memorial remains open to visitor tours. We will remain open until the very last possible day before we head out to Drydock No. 4. Be sure to tell your visiting friends and family, there’s still plenty to see and explore at the Mighty Mo!

(Watch for your next Broadside for a full summary and work detail of the drydocking project.)

August 2009 -- Drydocking Nears; Other Restoration Projects a ‘Head’ of Schedule

For those of you who are following the progress of Missouri’s drydocking, be sure to read military affairs reporter William Cole’s “Battleship Missouri going into drydock” article, recently published in The Honolulu Advertiser.

In the meantime, in late August, Pacific Shipyards International will start the aft main deck head restoration project. The remodeling includes installation of two ADA entry doors, two ADA toilet doors, four grab bars, toilet partitions, four urinals, urinal partitions, five mirrors, signage, vinyl lettering, anchors and putty repair on the walls.

Other enhancements will include adjusting the floor height-lip for access; construction of new divider walls; and installation of six regular toilets, three or four sinks, paper holder, baby changing station and electrical outlets for lights and blowers.

Demolition will be performed by Battleship Missouri Memorial staff and volunteers; however, Pacific Shipyards International will be present to assist in maximizing the transition to installation.

July 2009 -- Boat Restoration Project

The following is a general description of work to be performed in support of repairs and restoration of a 40-foot utility boat and 32-foot gig, a small boat used on naval ships as the Captain’s taxi. This work will begin prior to Missouri’s drydocking and completed before the end of drydocking. Once both boats have been restored, they will be placed on the ship in their boat skids, significantly enhancing the ship’s profile.

  • Remove boats from the storage compound and position at the end of Pier Foxtrot-5. This will be completed once Akana Trucking provides the cost estimate and date.
  • Cleaning, stripping and removal of hardware, including engines. Volunteers will work this phase.
  • Repair and replacement of fiberglass, as needed. Work requires qualified personnel of either volunteers or staff.
  • Sanding of boats to a smooth surface prior to priming. Volunteers and staff.
  • Prime boats and sand to a smooth finish. This is to be done twice. Volunteers and staff.
  • Final finish is moon-glow-grey for the 40-foot utility boat and the hull of the 32-foot gig. Endeavor blue is planned for the deck, soft white for the canopy and red striping for the water line on the gig. Volunteers and staff.
  • Replace the hardware, which includes windows on the gig. Volunteers and staff.
  • This project should start as early as possible. The volunteers will be much needed so ship personnel can continue to work on required tasks prior to drydocking.
  • The completion date will be two weeks prior to coming out of drydocking so as to place the boats onboard.


ENHANCING PIER EXHIBITS

BOATS

DRYDOCK PIER PROJECTS

Missouri’s pierside Visitor Operations Center (VOC) and Spectrum Photography facilities will go under platform. Existing VOC will house the server and phone rotary. At this time, no location has been determined.

May 2009 -- Encampment Expansion

The Missouri's Engineering Department is pleased to announce an upgrade to our Encampment Program facilities. Though not as large in scope as the Missouri's overall modernization in the 1980s, it will allow our Education Department to continue to expand the encampment experience.

Our contractor, SimplexGrinnell, has added more fire sprinkler heads and piping in the berthing areas of the ships. Doing so allowed us to gain an additional 81 racks for encampment program.

In addition, Seaward Marine has cleaned 80 percent of the underwater hull. They are slated to return on April 18 to complete the cleaning and conduct the hull inspection.

Youth groups can sample life as a sailor through the Missouri's overnight encampment experience. Just like real sailors, campers sleep in the crew berthing areas, store their gear in the lockers, eat Navy-style meals on the ship's mess deck, and use shipboard restrooms and shower facilities. Everything you need to know about the overnight encampment program is available here.

To download the latest Encampment Program Guide, click here

April 2009 -- Renovation Update

We are currently reconfiguring the simulator room to eventually be used by Kahala Catering for food and beverage service. The VOC is also undergoing renovation and options for locations are still pending. The 32’ Captain’s Gig and 40’ Utility Boat are being refurbished.

In preparation for drydock later this year, the Marketing Department trailer will be removed, and a demolition of the special events office will be complete. During that time, affected personnel will be relocated aboard the ship.

March 2009 -- Mighty Mo’s Hull Gets Cleaned and Inspected

Prior to entering drydock, an accurate assessment of our underwater hull is necessary to document deficiencies and plan repairs. The ship’s hull has not been cleaned in over 10 years and it is overgrown with various types of coral and marine growth. The ship's paint system,"anti fouling," has failed in several areas and as a result we have several rust pockets. In addition to that, the ship’s Cathodic Protection systems’ underwater components are not operating at perimeters.

All these systems must work in conjunction to function as designed to protect and preserve the hull. Seaward Marine, an expert in underwater hull cleaning and inspection, has been tasked to clean the hull. We estimate it will take two weeks and is currently scheduled for late March or early April. They will clean the underwater hull, assess its condition, document and provide us with pictures. Once we are out of drydock and in our normal state of operation we will have the hull cleaned every five years.

February 2009 -- Battleship Missouri Improves Accessibility

The Battleship Missouri Engineering Department is proud to announce that the new aft boarding brow elevator installation is nearing completion. After a few minor tweaks and modifications, elevator no. 1 is ready for use.

The second elevator installation is underway and is more than 60 percent complete. Access Lifts of Hawaii, Inc., the company completing the installation, is currently awaiting two parts for elevator no. 2. Depending on whether or not the parts come in on time, we hope to have this elevator operational shortly.

January 2009 -- Happy New Year, from the Mighty Mo’s Chief Engineer!

elevators in cratesThis is my first installment in “Broadside,” and my entire department is looking forward to using this medium to keep our members posted on the many projects underway this year. We have an exciting and challenging year ahead of us, and the many improvements and innovative projects we are undergoing are under a full head of steam, making way.

With great pleasure, I would like to announce that we are decommissioning the forklift truck that served as our ADA access onto the ship’s main deck. We have built a new platform and are installing elevators on the pier.

We have begun and extensive and comprehensive inspection of the ships tanks and voids in preparation for long-term preservation of this great ship.

We are also working with BAE Systems and the Pearl Harbor Shipyard to finalize the dry-docking package, scheduled to begin in September.

Some of the other projects we currently have in progress are as follows:

  • Dennis Murphy, Bob Albin, my staff and a small army of volunteers are happy to announce that the starboard after quarterdeck teak deck restoration is 95 percent complete and will open on Jan. 31, in time for the “Hawaii’s Mightiest Chef” event.
  • The after smoke stack is in the process of being preserved and the men in the operations department are bringing this ship alive with the needle gunning, chipping hammers and paint brushes in hand. We do apologize for the noise or any inconvenience these projects may have caused; however, all of the work is being done to preserve the ship and help keep it an attractable attraction to draw in visitors and keep them coming back.
  • We are planning the renovation of the after head on the main deck to facilitate the use of our ADA, female and male guest restroom.

Ron Chavez
Chief Engineer