Topic starter
07/06/2012 2:28 pm
I know this is not steamboat related, but I know there are a lot of people who might have insight into this question.
Does anybody know what the current situation is regarding the USS Sanctuary (AH-17)? It was supposed to have been moved from Baltimore to the ESCO Ship Recycler in Brownsville, TX for dismantling last year, but I can't get any current information as to whether this has been done. There was a lot of litigation between the US Government and Potomac Navigation Inc., in the past couple years but I haven't found anything to specify if a resolution was made. A news story last year mentioned the move to ESCO, but there is nothing on the ESCO website stating it as either a past or current project.
I'm asking this because it is the last remaining WWII Hospital Ship (Haven class), and a friend of mine served there and wants to put an effort to try to purchase and restore her. I'm thinking he may be too late, but I told him I'll see if I can find any information.
07/06/2012 2:59 pm
*Hospital ship SANCTUARY*
Hi, Jeffery,
Just had to respond to your inquiry above. In my Navy/Marine Corps days I knew the U.S. navy Hospital Ships HOPE, SANCTUARY, REPOSE and HAVEN. While in Baltimore, MD last month attending the SSHSA 'ShiPosium'/Maritime Day celebrations, the present HAVEN was/is docked across the slip from the retired nuclear ship N/S SAVANNAH. You can go on your computer search to type in the names of the HOPE, SANCTUARY etc. The HAVEN is still very much in service and on-line as a hospital ship. She is pristine, painted white with big red crosses on her hull. The ship can be service ready within a week with a current skeleton crew. HAVEN is one of the last Navy ships still under steam with turbines. She is immense to say the least. I have no idea of the horrendous expense and logistics in purchasing any such ship like this but know it would be in the millions and up. In visiting the HAVEN I dared not think of the cost just in keeping her painted snow white on the outside. Heating, cooling, ventilation, water and electricty on such a ship would be a real set of problems and logistics.
The U.S. Navy receives continual requests for support grants to help maintain some 41 retired vessels of all sizes in U.S. ports as static museums and sites. The battleship IOWA one example. The battle cruiser OLYMPIA, of 1898 Manila Bay fame with Admiral Dewey, another example. OLYMPIA is in dire need of hull and structural repairs. This being done by 'friends of the ship and other sources. The Navy can't do it due to current demands to keep the present fleet up, running in battle readiness. The Navy turns down such requests saying, "If we do it for one, we have to do it for all." The Navy not in the museum vessel history business. The sail ship U.SS. CONSTITUTION in Boston still registered 'on the books' by our Navy. The vintage Russian battleship AURORA in St. Petersurgh, Russia is mainained by the present Russian Navy as a museum from the 1917 Revolution and is still 'on the books' there with a cadre of Russian sailors in attendance and for their color guard.
Send me your private E=Mail and I will later pull and send a digital photo of the HAVEN I took the other week. You may reach me at: [email protected]
I don't know much about much, but hope this helps in some little way. Keep us [or me]posted. The present HAVEN is one very big 'steamboat.'
R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.
07/06/2012 3:27 pm
Dale,
The ship we saw while on the Savannah was the COMFORT, a modern hospital ship that was converted from an oil tanker. Its identical twin on the west coast is the MERCY. Very soon the COMFORT will relocate to Norfolk, VA. She has been based out of Baltimore for years but soon that duty station will change.
The ex USS Sanctuary used to be moored across the river at Locust Point marine terminal. As a big fan of the HAVEN class hospital ships from WW2 I had tried unsuccessfully with two past owners to obtain access to the nearly perfectly intact ship. I have many photos of her from the water, both close and afar, but none from on board unfortunately. Like Mr. Williams I have been trying to find out her current status as well. I have seen photos of her being towed out of Baltimore, but nothing about her arrival in TX. A real shame we lost such an important part of military and medical history so recently. She was the sole survivor of early navy medical support ships.
Here is a picture of the COMFORT just taken in Baltimore by a friend of mine Veronica Salisbury, and one of the MERCY I took last November while on the naval base in San Diego.
07/06/2012 3:52 pm
*RE: USNHS COMFORT*
Phillip, you are KEEREECK! The ship we viewed was the COMFORT. I pulled up my digital photo, enlarged and there it was. These old, dim eyes not what they used to be. Forget 'the golden years.' Funny, next week I have an eye exam scheduled. On Saturday a steam engineer from the COMFORT boared the SAVANNAH in 'civvies' and we talked with him telling me of the COMFORT's steam turbines.
On Thursday evening ACL's handsome cruise boat INDEPENDENCE slid into Baltimore's inner harbor and docked. Not small as you think. They were disembarking passengers the next morning before heading out again. I talked to several of her crew on the dock and they said she wasn't fully booked, but had a "pretty good passenger list." Yes, Cap n' Walnut, the engineer on the INDEPENDENCE also wore "long sleeved shirts" even if there wasn't 'live steam.' I was invited back the next day to tour her but, alas, had to grab a taxi for the SAVANNAH. Good meeting, talking to you, Phillip, on the ship no matter how short. The big Maritime Day on Saturday memorable, moving with flags, guns, honor guards, speeches as they tossed the memorial wreath off the stern of the ship. A sailing vessel sounded her gun answered by cannon from Ft. McHenry up the harbor. It didn't get much better than that. What got me was the new, huge Japanese battle cruiser docked in Baltimore.
R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.
07/06/2012 5:03 pm
It was a pleasure meeting and talking to you too Dale. I hate that it was so short, we had such a jammed packed schedule in our short two day visit to the DC/Balto area. My biggest regret is missing the other presenters. It appeared that it was quite a nice gathering with some excellent presentations.
You'll have to come down to the DQ soon and check out the Jim Burns collections, I think you'll find it an awesome compliment to the artifacts you have. We're planning a big 85th anniversary party for the DQ to coincide with the July 4th celebrations in the park. We'd love to see you there!
More on that event will soon be announced from the boat.
07/06/2012 7:45 pm
*Visiting the DQ*
Phillip, I'd like nothing more than to run down and see the boat. Leaving here in two weeks for a Mediterranean cruise. On July 4th will be steaming from the Black Sea and Istanbul, Turkey through the Adriatic to Venice; then several days in Paris before winging home. Not settled back here until another week in July. I could pop down in the early fall. We shall see.
R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.