Laffey Back at Patriots Point by January

The Naval Destroyer USS Laffey will be back at Patriots Point in January.

The WWII-era ship, once near sinking due to corrosion, has been repaired and will be returned after the naval and maritime museum closes for a week to construct a new home for the ship.

“Along with returning the Laffey, we will take advantage of the removal of a 60-foot section of our pier to move the submarine Clamagore to a more accessible berth,” said Ray Chandler, the museum board's chairman.

The project is scheduled to begin on January 9. The vessel relocation, construction work and utility work should take 4 to 5 days, during which the attraction will not be open to visitors, according to a Patriots Point news release.

Relocating the two vessels and construction costs will total just more than $1 million.

“The fact is, we will have to take the Clamagore to dry dock in the foreseeable future," Chandler said. "The future cost of a second removal of our pier section, and dealing with utilities to the ship will be greatly reduced by moving the Clamagore now.”

The Clamagore suffers from minor leaks and has visible corrosion. At low tide, the sub lists as it sits on the harbor's ground.

Patriots Point has the funds on hand to pay for the relocation and pier repairs, according to executive director Mac Burdette, but the museum still owes the bulk of a $9 million state loan that paid for the ship's repairs.

Burdette said the funding will come from the Authority’s Capital Maintenance Fund. 

"The most important project is the return of the Laffey.  She is truly a historic ship whose service spanned three wars," Burdette said. "She is a true asset for any naval museum.”