The Battleship’s hull has critical structural issues that must be addressed immediately. Since coming to her berth in 1961, 60  years of wind and water at the tide line have left the hull paper-thin in places. Her last major dry docking and repair work was done in 1953. She is sitting in 30 feet of river silt, but this silt has actually helped to preserve the bottom better than at the wind-water line.

** The Battleship NORTH CAROLINA remains open to the public during construction and repairs **

The Basics

Cofferdam

  • A cofferdam is a watertight structure built to allow the enclosed area to be pumped out, creating a dry work environment.
  • The Battleship cofferdam enables workers to repair and restore the ship’s corroded hull, which is paper-thin in places.
  • The cofferdam was constructed by Orion Marine Group of Norfolk, Va.

  •  Cofferdam stats

    • 50 feet tall
    • 1,909 feet long around perimeter
    • 1,206 steel sheet piles
    • 229 vertical steel H-piles, 55 feet long
    • 229 battered steel H-piles, 60 feet long
    • 4.6 million pounds of steel (2,300 tons)

    • 4 slide gate weirs: 10 feet, 6 inches tall by 6 feet wide

The SECU [State Employees Credit Union] Memorial Walkway

  • The SECU Memorial Walkway is a half-mile long, 10-foot-wide timber walkway surrounding the Battleship. It enables visitors to see the ship’s entire hull for the first time.
  • The SECU Memorial Walkway includes five bump-out areas to honor each of the five branches of the military: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. The Merchant Marines will be honored by flying their flag on the quarterdeck.
  • The SECU Memorial Walkway is open to the public and free of charge.

FAQs

Q: When the water and muck is pumped away from the ship, how will they shore the Battleship to keep her from listing? 

A: The ship is settled in approximately 25 feet of mud. The cofferdam allows us to access the portions of the hull (about a 10-foot band we call the “wind/water line”) that need to be replaced, but we will not remove all the water and mud from around the entire ship at one time. Enough water and mud remain to ensure the stability of the Battleship, similar to what was done on the USS ALABAMA. A successful test of dewatering the cofferdam was completed in 2019. The condition around the ship when we drain the water is similar to what we experience at low tide. We will simply have more control over the amount of water around the ship while we replace steel.

Q: Did you drive sheet steel into the muck?

A: Yes. The steel sheet piles, steel “H” piles, and timber piles for the walkway were driven into the mud and limestone layer that exists about 42-50 feet below the ship. Engineers carefully calculated the specific depth of each pile to ensure the cofferdam and walkway are able to withstand the various pressures on all sides during all tidal conditions and those we will create during maintenance periods. We conducted several geo-technical studies, as well as a test pile analysis, to confirm the subsurface conditions and holding strength of the mud and limestone.

Example of a slide gate weir

Q: Are provisions being made to get the Ship out of the cofferdam and into the river if necessary? Such as locks or doors on the end of the cofferdam?

A: The Battleship’s condition prevents her from leaving her berth; however, the cofferdam is equipped with slide gate weirs that open and close so that water can be pumped out.

 

Q: What will happen to the portion of the hull that is in the mud? Does the mud protect it from corrosion or will that eventually need to be excavated to make repairs?

A: The ship is settled in approximately 25 feet of mud. The portion of the hull that is in the mud has been largely protected from corrosion by lack of exposure to the elements. The cofferdam allows us to access the portions of the hull (about a 10-foot band we call the “wind/water line”) that have been exposed to the elements for 60 years!

Q: How do I support the repairs to the Battleship?

Funds donated through the Generations Campaign will repair the hull, using a cofferdam system; increase educational resources; and maintain access to keep the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA proud as a memorial and year-round event and educational attraction. There are four different ways you can give.

1.) Donate online. Click here to give to the Generations Campaign through the donation website.

2.) Pledge now. Click here to fill out a pledge form online.

3.) Mail a check to:

The Friends of the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA
1 Battleship Road
Wilmington, NC  28401

(Please note “Generations Campaign” on the memo line to ensure your donation will support the Generations Campaign.)

Click here to download and print the gift or pledge form to accompany your check.

4.) Visit the Battleship for an onsite donation. If you have further questions on pledges or other ways to give, please contact development@battleshipnc.com.