The Oliver Hazard Perry, seen here arriving in Newport in October 2008, is bound for Providence on Monday. (Photo by OHPRI)
NEWPORT, R.I. – The hull of the soon-to-be-built tall ship Oliver Hazard Perry is heading up-bay for the winter, where it will undergo major steel and mechanical work at Promet Marine Services on the Providence River.
Departure of the ship has been set for approximately 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning and the tow is estimated to take between 3-4 hours.
Since the Oliver Hazard Perry arrived in Newport at the end of October 2008, the Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island (OHPRI) organization (formerly Tall Ships RI) has generated significant financial support toward the completion of the vessel, which will be a working educational ship, privately run but belonging to and representing the people of Rhode Island. She will be based in Newport, and sail the world as an ambassador of sorts for the city and the state.
“We are calling it a shave and a haircut, but it’s actually preparation for Phase II construction,” said Perry Lewis, vice chair of OHPRI, about the 132-foot steel hull’s visit to Promet. He explained that the shipyard specializes in high quality ship repair and accommodates ocean going vessels with deep-water docking facilities on nine acres of Providence River waterfront. “The ship’s bottom will be power washed and zincs and anti-fouling paint applied; the now-iconic bulwarks will be cut off in preparation for the new deck; and survey work, an ongoing process for U.S. Coast Guard certification, will continue with every plate in the steel hull scheduled for inspection while the hull is out of the water.”
Since the Oliver Hazard Perry arrived in Newport at the end of October 2008, OHPRI has generated significant financial support toward the completion of the vessel, which will be a working education at sea ship, privately run but belonging to and representing the people of Rhode Island.
According to OHPRI Advisory Board Chair Tom Weschler, who estimates a cost of $5.7 million to complete the Oliver Hazard Perry, the organization underwent its own makeover to more clearly define its mission. “Tall Ships Rhode Island changed its name to Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island and incorporated Education at Sea into its logo to make clear we are building a school ship and to better reflect our ongoing commitment to education,” he said.
The project’s extended focus has received enthusiastic response from Rhode Island’s public, independent and charter schools, as well as universities and trade schools. These institutions will utilize the Oliver Hazard Perry for experiential education and marine certification programs. This interest has prompted Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island to organize a statewide symposium in February 2010 to enable Rhode Island’s institutions to develop their programs and partnerships with Oliver Hazard Perry.
Once it is completed in 2011, the Oliver Hazard Perry will measure in at 207 feet in length and boast a majestic three-masted, square rig that stands 13 stories tall.
More information can be found online at www.ohpri.org.
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Newport, RI
