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Posted: Wednesday, 14 May 2008 3:34PM
Divers Inspect Historic Warship in Penn's Landing
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by KYW's Ian Bush
Thursday will mark the third straight day for divers working to ensure an historic warship has its land legs. They've been inspecting the underside of the USS Olympia (left), docked at Penn's Landing.
Her resume is impressive: the flagship of the Spanish-American War. The world's oldest steel-floating ship. The vessel that brought the body of the unknown soldier home.
Most steel hull ships are pulled every 20 years for repairs and maintenance:
"This ship has not been out of the water for 60 years."
So, Michele DiGirolamo with the Independence Seaport Museum says the dive team is using ultrasound and hammers to check the integrity of the steel, along with the propulsion and steering gear.
Jesse Lebovics, the historic ships manager, says that's so they can see if it's safe for the Olympia to be dry-docked, and fixed.
"It's universally worn. There's a few areas that are fairly critical and need interim repairs. But for the most part, it's in actually remarkable shape, considering the amount of time it's been in the water."
For more information, visit the Independence Seaport Museum web site.
(Photos: KYW's Ian Bush)
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