Camden, NJ – The familiar sight of the battleship U.S.S. New Jersey will soon vanish temporarily from the Camden Waterfront starting in March.
The Battleship New Jersey is set to receive a substantial $5 million funding boost for dry docking, courtesy of the New Jersey Historical Commission, as part of the FY2024 Appropriations Act signed by Governor Phil Murphy. This move comes after over 30 years since the vessel’s last maintenance in 1991.
The dry docking is in accordance with the Navy’s guidelines, which recommend such maintenance for inactive warships every 20 years. This process will involve the Battleship New Jersey temporarily leaving its Camden Waterfront location, being towed to Philadelphia for an estimated 60-100 days, and then returning to Camden.
Governor Phil Murphy emphasized the importance of such historical sites to New Jersey’s tourism, highlighting the recent state budget’s focus on revitalizing these locations. Secretary of State Tahesha Way echoed these sentiments, noting the state’s commitment to preserving historical treasures like the Battleship New Jersey.
Phil Rowan, CEO of the Battleship New Jersey, expressed gratitude for the funding, emphasizing the cost-saving and preservation benefits of this proactive approach. Sara Cureton, Director of the New Jersey Historical Commission, underscored the significance of dry docking in honoring the ship’s legacy.
The upcoming maintenance involves critical tasks such as hull cleaning and repainting, repairing corrosion, and replacing anodes crucial for the ship’s cathodic protection system.
NJ State Senators Nilsa Cruz Perez, Troy Singleton, and Jim Beach, as well as New Jersey Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald, and Assemblymen Bill Moen, Jr., and Bill Spearman, highlighted the Battleship’s historical and tourist significance, expressing their support for the funding. NJ Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt emphasized the educational value of the Battleship, especially for local youth.
Louis Cappelli Jr., Commissioner Director for the Camden County Board of Commissioners, acknowledged the Battleship’s role in the community and the necessity of its preservation. Ryan Szimanski, Vice President of Curatorial & Education for the Battleship New Jersey, reiterated the commitment to preserving the ship as a museum and memorial.
The dry docking will take place at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard’s Dry Dock Number 3, a site closely tied to the Battleship’s history, being its original construction and reactivation location.