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u.s. news Diahuebs 1 september 2022

Leaky battleship in Texas begins trip for $35M repairs

LA PORTE, Texas (AP) — It's
the only surviving battleship that
served in both world wars, hav-
ing fought Nazis and the Japa-
nese Army during World War II.
But the greatest challenge in re-
cent years for the USS Texas has
been a leaky, rusty hull that at
times forced workers to pump
out about 2,000 gallons (7,570 li-
ters) of water per minute from
the 110-year-old ship.

To ensure the historic vessel doesn't
sink and can continue hosting visi-
tors, the foundation in charge of its
care is towing the ship Wednesday
from its longtime home along the
Houston Ship Channel to a shipyard
in Galveston for much needed re-
pairs.

Tony Gregory, the president of the
Battleship Texas Foundation, said
Wednesday the pulling of the ship by
tugboats and getting it on its way was
perfect. He said any problems would
have happened in the first 15 minutes
of pulling the ship but there were no
issues.

Gregory said he expects the ship to major step in getting the ship back to to the same shipyard in Galveston for ship was unmoored, said she became
arrive in Galveston by 4 p.m. tip top shape," Gregory said Tuesday repairs in 1988. emotional and teared up as she saw
as he stood on the vessel while work- the ship move and heard its whistle
The journey from its longtime berth ers made final preparations. For the last three years, the ship has sound as it began its journey. As the
at the San Jacinto Battleground State been closed to the public as the foun- ship began moving, Thomas said,
Historic Site in the Houston suburb The battleship will be pulled by four dation has been preparing for the re- people clapped and cheered.
of La Porte is part of a $35 million tugboats at a pace of about 5 knots pairs. In 2019, the Texas Legislature
project to repair the hull and ulti- per hour. The 40-mile (64 kilometer) approved the $35 million to fix the "It's amazing to see a ship that's 100
mately restore the ship to its former journey to Galveston was expected to hull. The foundation is planning to years old out on the water again, mov-
glory. take about nine hours and won't be make other fixes which it's paying for. ing like she did for so many years. It
without risk as the ship's hull could All the repairs are expected to take up was exciting," said Thomas, who lives
The ship's repairs are part of the foun- leak enough to sink it. to a year to complete. in the Houston suburb of Kingwood.
dation's plans to eventually resettle it
in a new location in Texas, possibly in Since 1948, the USS Texas has been The foundation expected many peo- Thomas said she believes it's impor-
one of three nearby cities, including located at the state historic site where ple to gather along the ship channel tant to preserve the ship so future
Galveston, in order to attract more the decisive battle in the Texas Revo- to watch the ship go by. generations can learn its history and
visitors and increase revenue. lution was fought. There, it's served it can remind people how they can
as a museum and tourist attraction. Tricia Thomas, 50, who was one of come together for a common cause
Moving the ship for repairs is "the The battleship was previously taken the people invited to watch as the that's greater than them.

Atlanta skyscraper fire

sends smoke billowing from

rooftop

ATLANTA (AP) — A fire Atlanta, the tower is slated to
broke out on the rooftop be an 835-bed, 265-unit resi-
of a skyscraper under con- dence, aimed at Georgia State
struction in downtown University students. Permits
Atlanta on Wednesday, filed in 2021 when construc-
bringing dozens of fire- tion began valued the work at
fighters and police offi- $56 million.
cers to the site near Cen-
tennial Olympic Park. The building is supposed
to be completed in August
Flames were visible on the 2023. While its steel and
roof of the 32-story tower, concrete structure has been
sending a dark column of erected, the interiors remain
smoke into the sky. Con- unfinished.
struction workers spilled
out of the building before The building's developer and
firefighters extinguished the contractor did not immedi-
blaze. ately respond to requests for
comment.
Called The Metropolitan at