USS The Sullivans Righted

The effort to “Save The Sullivans” at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park will transition to the next phase response as the USS The Sullivans was dewatered and righted at its pier.

Park officials report that the historic U.S. Navy destroyer is now near-level, with only a 0.1-degree list, a major improvement from the almost 30-degree starboard list after the ship partially sank last month. As of Monday, divers had plugged a total of 51 holes in the hull and crew members removed approximately 95% of the water from the vessel. Due to the success, the mission has now Emergency Response Phase to a Maintenance and Decontamination Phase.

Crew have been working to save USS The Sullivans after the decorated U.S. Navy destroyer-turned museum ship partially sank at its pier on April 13 after a “serious hull breach” on its starboard side.

Built in 1943, USS The Sullivans is one of only four Fletcher-class destroyers remaining in existence. The class is known for being the largest and most important class of U.S. destroyers used in World War II. USS The Sullivans is also the first ship in the U.S. Navy to be named for more than one person—named after the five brothers from Waterloo, Iowa who were killed in action in 1942 while serving together on board the USS Juneau.

The USS The Sullivans is owned and maintained as a museum ship by Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, the largest inland Naval Park in the United States.

The Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park said as the operation moves into the next phase, the number of workers at the site will be reduced and some equipment removed. The BIDCO Marine Group will continue to work with us to complete the 2-part epoxy repair to the hull that was started last summer.

“We would like to thank the men and women who came to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park from across the country to help Save the Sullivans, and to the community that provided so much support in all forms. There is still more work to do, but we have much to be grateful for,” the park said in an update on its Facebook page.