Free to Good Home: Carrier USS John F. Kennedy

[heights unknown]

The Midway Class Ships, Midway, Roosevelt and Coral Sea, were a little shy of 1,000 feet long by 230 feet wide, so they would still be too long and would jut into the middle of the St. John's channel downtown; so even if they were still around (Midway is but she is a museum in San Diego), they still would be too big, and likewise for the Essex Class (868 x 210 feet).

A small destroyer, frigate or cruiser would be the answer for Jax, Ock hit everything right on the head. 

"HU"

[Ocklawaha]

Thanks Heights, you and I are on the same deck with this one... Squid to Squid, it would be most cool if Jason could set that model in that east chanel, north of the Island, and just south of Hecksher. Maybe then we could get a realistic view. Any farther east past Brown's Creek, and it would sit in front of some high dollar housing. Of course if the Devil Dogs let one slip, those homes will no longer be a problem, call it "urban renewal".

OCKLAWAHA
"Son of a Son of a Sailor..."

[Charles Hunter]

You may want to ask the USMC if they want a tourist attraction overlooking their materiel port on the east half of Blount Island.  And looking at Google Maps, the only linear spot long enough on the NE side of the island is opposite some of what I expect are "high end" houses on Heckscher.  Looks like each one has a private dock.  How wide is Back Channel there?  It doesn't look like there is enough room at the "point" at the north end of the island, west of Brown's Creek to avoid those homes.  The Navy property extends to just a couple hundred feet from the eastern-most bridge to the mainland.

[Ocklawaha]

Charles, your not quite far enough up the channel, keep going to you hit the bridge, then count back east. Nested up to the Blount Island Blvd Bridge, and running back to the corner of the first group of 5+ lots is 1,166 feet. A bulkhead would have to be created on the North side of the East Channel, and some dredging would be needed to push the ship up next to the bulkhead. As for homes, no large homes in this stretch, perhaps none at all. Looks from the air like some fishing docks near corner of Blount Island and Hecksher Drive, with some small shanty's of some sort. To the East, none of the lots has been developed within this space. There are a few, which could offer a small museum, gate, and parking lot.


OCKLAWAHA

[Charles Hunter]

OK - between the Brown's Creek Fish Camp and the bridge?  I missed where you said on the north (mainland) side of the river, not against the island. 
Still, I'd wager the Marines might have some concerns with a 20 story 'structure' looming above their port that ships supplies to the military around the world.

[stjr]

I dont remember....... why did the Saratoga bid flop?

For the same reason the Kennedy will: Money for maintenance.  This is an even bigger obstacle than locating a berth.

The Feds will require proof of the ability to sustain maintenance on the ship.  Can you imagine the continuing costs just to paint the darn thing every few years?  Millions, I am sure.  As I recall, fail to maintain it to standards, and the Feds reclaim the ship.

My guess is it would take a minimum of $15 to $30 million to move the ship in place, prepare a berth for it (build a pier, support utilities and services, land-side buildings and access, etc.), and to put the ship in any any kind of shape to proudly and honorably put it on display.  And, then from day one, it will cost a few million more every few years to keep it in shape.  I didn't count the cost of land acquisition for parking, access, and the pier/infrastructure. 

The Saratoga group never came close, and those were much better times economically.  It's like the $ky-high-way, just because the Feds offer it for free, doesn't mean we can afford to take it on.

"Beware of Feds bearing free gifts."

P.S. The FAA also has something to say about 20 story tall structures in the middle of nowhere.  And, if it is in sight of the Timucuan preserve, so will the NPS/Dept. of Interior.  Remember this issue with the cruise terminal?  And, there will need to be environmental studies, Water Management District, Corps of Engineers, etc., etc.  Good luck passing all those tests.

[Ocklawaha]

My biggest worry over a carrier is we would have a 1,000 foot long 200' high "SAIL" to deal with in the very first tropical storm. Without the ability to get out to sea, that ship might end up in the marshes around Yulee. Just do the math, surface area x 140  mph winds x 20 foot storm surge... Sorry guys, unless the Navy came in and took her in tow a week before, she'd be history!

Anyone know what Mobile did with the USS Alabama during Katrina? Did they even have a plan? What about Jacksonville, NC and the USS North Carolina?

OCKLAWAHA

[stjr]

Doesn't Charleston have a carrier or at least a battleship?  Where was it when Hugo struck?

[subro]

From Friday's Jax Daily Record

City Notes
02/12/2010

• Talk of bringing the decommissioned USS Adams to Downtown and converting it into a naval museum and attraction is still out there. Now, the Navy has weighed in. According to Patricia Dolan, director of the office of corporate communications, it could cost in excess of $10 million to bring the ship to town.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/citynotes.php?id=530257

[stjr]

• Talk of bringing the decommissioned USS Adams to Downtown and converting it into a naval museum and attraction is still out there. Now, the Navy has weighed in. According to Patricia Dolan, director of the office of corporate communications, it could cost in excess of $10 million to bring the ship to town.
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/citynotes.php?id=530257

$10 million for this?  Imagine the costs for an aircraft carrier.  With all the critical needs in the community and the economy at present I don't see how anyone pulls this off.

[Ocklawaha]

The Alabama took hit's in Katrina, but believe it or not was used as a hurricane shelter!

The USS Alabama Memorial Park is not just the great ship, but a wonderful collection of many, many historical military artifacts, including the submarine USS Drum, nearly 25 aircraft (INCLUDING that Beautiful Beasty Aerospace War Machine known as the F-14 Tomcat!) and a bunch of other draws.

The problem is…when Hurricane Katrina swung through a couple of years ago, much damage was caused to the entire complex.  The ship ended up with a 4+ degree list, radar systems on the ship were destroyed â€" all told an estimated $2.6 mil is needed to get the old girl back in fighting/display shape.

Many aircraft and buildings in the complex were damaged or destroyed.

OCKLAWAHA

[Timkin]

I hope the carrier did not end up getting scrapped ... Do wish we had something like this as a museum destination in Jax.