Oriskany On Course for Sinking in Gulf of Mexico May 17 (To Davey Jone's Locker to Rest forever)

Navy NewsStand ^ | Mike O’Connor

[SandRat]

NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- A pierside press conference was held April 18 aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola to provide details of the final preparations for sinking the decommissioned aircraft carrier ex-Oriskany (CVA 34).

With the rusting hulk of Oriskany as a backdrop, Capt. Lawrence Jones, Inactive Ships program manager in charge of the Oriskany project and Resolve Marine’s Vice President Denise Johnston answered questions about the sinking.

Resolve-Esco Joint Venture is the contractor for the final work necessary to prep the ship for its ultimate disposition as a reef. This includes pre-ballasting water tanks aboard to get the ship as low in the water as possible and cutting access plates between the engineering spaces to allow for natural flooding.

Weather permitting, the ship will make its final sortie May 15. It will be sunk May 17 as the largest Navy vessel intentionally sunk to become an artificial reef. The proposed site for Oriskany’s final resting place is approximately 24 miles off the coast of Pensacola in 212 feet of water.

“The largest challenge is ballasting the vessel, due to the fact of her age and some of the piping systems that were cut during the remediation progress,” Johnston said. “We are on target for our completion date, and we don’t anticipate any problems.”

Massive anchors, each weighing 33,000 pounds, will be used in a four-point mooring system to help ensure that the ship sinks in the desired south-facing orientation.

Navy explosive demolition technicians will place small charges on the ship’s intake valves shortly before the sinking. The ship will flood from inside progressively in order to sink on an even keel.

“The plan is designed to have segregated bulkheads...so that it could go down by the bow,” Jones said. “We have put everything into this to have it go down even trim, even keel. And that’s how the state wants it...to make a pleasing venue for diving.”

For related news, visit the Naval Air Station Pensacola Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/naspensacola/.

[SandRat]

Pensacola, Fla. (April 17, 2006) - Decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA 34) sits in port at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, while undergoing necessary maintenance. Known as the "Big O," the 32,000-ton, 888-foot Oriskany is being delivered to Pensacola, where it is being prepared for its final journey. Oriskany is schedule to be scuttled 22 miles south of Pensacola in approximately 212 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico May 17, 2006, where it will become the largest ship ever intentionally sunk as an artificial reef. After the Oriskany reaches the bottom, ownership of the vessel will transfer from the Navy to the State of Florida. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate Airman David R. Quillen (RELEASED)

[SandRat]

Proud Gray Lady to be sent to Davey Jone's Locker May 17.

[Thebaddog]

Was she the carrier that McCain almost shot down?

[SandRat]

I believe that she is the one that he almost sank.

[usurper]

Was she the carrier that McCain almost shot down?

I believe that was the USS Forestall.

[magslinger]

It was indeed the USS Forrestal. I believe it was the O'boat that he flew off when he was shot down.

[CPOSharky]

When I was on the Oriskany it was called "The Mighty O-Boat." (The next to last cruise which was also the last aircraft carrier war patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin.)

[magslinger]

Sorry about omitting the "Mighty".

[CPOSharky]

Sorry about omitting the "Mighty".

No problem. O-boat was the accepted short form. I was reffering to the picture caption that called her the "Big-O." Never heard that one.

[StarCMC]

WOW!! We were just reading about this at the NAS Pensacola website! Too cool! We are vacationing just east of Pensacola this week, and Tues. AM we saw the Blue Angels fly at the NAS. AWESOME! My favorite part of our vacations here! :o)

[E.G.C.]

BTTT