Battleship Texas New Home at Pier 21 in Galveston
GALVESTON, Texas – After years of planning, the Battleship Texas Foundation is nearing final agreements with both Landry’s Inc. and the Port of Galveston to dock the historic USS Texas permanently at Pier 21.
Tony Gregory, President/CEO of the Battleship Texas Foundation, announced Thursday that the Foundation is approximately 60 days away from signing contracts with both parties. Landry’s operates several attractions adjacent to Pier 21, including the Harbor House Hotel and Willie G’s Seafood & Steaks. If finalized, the agreements would provide a long-term home for the deteriorating but iconic 110-year-old battleship following recent restoration work.
Mark Ashwell, Director of Business Development at Gulf Copper Dry Dock & Rig Repair, where restoration on the USS Texas began in September 2022 stated, “This will be a great enhancement for Galveston City and its people, as it will keep the iconic battleship in Texas and improve the overall tourist experience on the island.
The Battleship Texas will allow people from all over the country to tour the battleship to feel nostalgic and see the once state-of-the-art technology and engineering marvel of the only remaining World War I Dreadnought.”
Gregory noted that the Foundation would be financially responsible for the maintenance of the battleship under the proposed contracts. He expects total operating costs to be significant but declined to cite specific figures, as the Foundation relies predominantly on donations.
Mayor Craig Brown confirmed the city’s support for docking the floating museum in Galveston to augment its lineup of attractions. However, details are still being discussed before any binding pact is made.
The USS Texas is the last remaining combat veteran of World War I and served in both World Wars, escorting convoys across the Atlantic and providing fire support in Pacific battles. After nearly 60 years of maintenance by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, the Texas Legislature granted operational control to the Battleship Texas Foundation in 2019, along with $35 million in repair funds.
Structural repairs and waterproofing foam recently cut water intrusion from 2,000 gallons per minute to just 50, greatly extending the ship’s life. Gregory estimated a 90% chance the battleship will find its permanent home in Galveston. Final agreements are expected within two months, ending years of uncertainty for the deteriorating historic warship.
Battleship USS Texas Dry Dock Tours
Dry Dock Tours Now Available!
The Battleship Texas Foundation begins seasonal dry dock tours around the ship out of the port of Galveston. It is currently undergoing an extensive $35 million repair at Gulf Copper & Manufacturing’s shipyard to refurbish the hull. The Battleship was commissioned in 1914 and is the last surviving dreadnought that fought in both World War I and World War II.
Sign up online for this unique opportunity to see Battleship USS Texas up close and out of the water! Limited tours are available on the dry dock at Gulf Copper on Sundays only, until April 30th. These are guided tours that are about an hour long, walking on the dry dock deck. Space is limited, tickets are $150.
Here’s what you need to know:
- There is a strict dress code at Gulf Copper’s facility. You must be wearing full length pants and closed toed shoes, with good traction. Pants must cover all the way to your shoes. Eye protection and hard hats will be provided. If you are not in dress code, you will have to reschedule for another time or day.
- All participants must be at least 16 years old. Under 18 will need an accompanying adult.
- You will be required to sign a liability waiver and photo release.
- Pictures are welcome, but we ask that no video be recorded during the tours.
- There will be no refunds once you have signed up, but you will be able to reschedule if necessary.
- You must sign up online, no tickets will be sold at the gate. You must sign up in advance.
For more information you can visit the Battleship Texas Foundation website.
Battleship USS Texas Is Making One Hell of a Comeback
The USS Texas, a World War I-era battleship, is undergoing a $35 million repair effort in Galveston, Texas. While the ship is in dry dock, the Battleship Texas Foundation has been providing limited tours so visitors can see the damage to the hull and the repair efforts. The tours, which began last month and run every Sunday, are only open to visitors who are at least 16 years old and who adhere to a strict dress code. The USS Texas is the oldest surviving modern naval warship and has seen service in both world wars. After the repairs are completed, the foundation intends to relocate the ship to a new location, with Baytown, Galveston, and Beaumont expressing interest in hosting it.
IDIQ Announcement
Gulf Copper was one of the awardees on a combined $300,185,454 firm-fixed price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract for non-complex repair, maintenance, and modernization requirements of non-nuclear U.S. Navy amphibious (LHA, LHD, LPD and LSD) class ships homeported in or visiting Norfolk, Virginia. These efforts consist of Chief of Naval Operations scheduled docking and non-docking, continuous maintenance, and emergent maintenance availabilities of amphibious class ships to be performed in Norfolk, Virginia. Accordingly, the place of performance is Norfolk, Virginia where the Mid-Atlantic Maintenance Center (MARMC) will administer the contract. Delivery orders will be competitively awarded under this contract, which are to be performed in Norfolk, Virginia. Each of the contracts has an estimated ordering period of four years, which is expected to end in January of 2027.
Award of NOAA Henry Bigelow
Congratulations to Gulf Copper and Manufacturing being awarded the $3.9 Million Dry Docking and refurbishment of the NOAA vessel M/V Henry Bigelow. We look forward to a successful project under the guidance of Jonathan Hale and the Galveston project team of Craig Marston and Erik Stramblad.
SEACOSCO ‘AMAZON’ Stimulation Package
Gulf Copper Galveston shipyard completes the installation of the ‘Stimulation Package’ which includes electrical support, and piping system integrations for Schlumberger on the SEACOSCO Amazon vessel that will be supporting the Exxon Mobil project in Guyana.
The project took approximately 6 weeks alongside at our Galveston facility and encompassed around 20 personnel dedicated to the project round the clock.
Seadrill Westvela Installation
GC Energy Services group (GCES) was contracted by Seadrill to perform the installation of the West Vela second BOP HPU.
The Project was performed in two phases:
- Phase I involved cutting two access openings in HPU room to rig in the High Pressure Unit and the Accumulator bottles. These access openings were then reinstalled by the GCES Team.
- Phase II consisted of installing stainless steel piping rated for 6000 psi using a tig welding method and stainless steel tubing. GCES also performed the internal passivation of the stainless piping for further corrosive protection of the system.
All work was performed safely and with good planning, resulting in on-budget installation.
Read more about Gulf Copper’s onshore energy services.
Transocean Polar Pioneer
The scope included the removal of six (6) existing Panama chocks on the pontoons and installation of six (6) new Panama chocks which were fabricated by Gulf Copper and Manufacturing in their Port Arthur, Texas facility.
Gulf Copper also performed the removal of 84 sea fasteners which had been welded to the underneath bottom plating of the pontoons for the heavy lift transit from SE Asia to Washington State.
The work was performed in the ports of Port Angeles and Seattle, Washington. A smaller team remained onboard to perform various tasks in preparation for the upcoming drilling season in the Chukchi Sea.
