Hull towed up the Bay on its voyage to become a tall ship
1:52 PM Wed, Nov 25, 2009 | Permalink
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When it's finished, the Oliver Hazard Perry will be a three-masted, square-rigged warship with ties to Rhode Island's famous naval war hero of the same name. The non-profit organization, Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island, based in Newport, bought the hull from Canada and is raising funds to turn it into replica of a 19th-Century warship. 
Rendering of completed Oliver Hazard Perry/ Courtesy Media Pro International
The hull will be renovated by Promet Marine Services, a shipyard that specializes in high-quality ship repair and accommodates ocean-going vessels with its deep water port. The 132-foot steel hull will be power-washed and anti-fouling paint will be applied. The iconic bulwarks will be cut off in preparation for the new deck and every steel plate will be inspected as part of the certification process required by the U.S. Coast Guard. Since the Perry arrived in Newport in late October, the owners have raised $1.6 million toward completion of the vessel, which will be a working educational ship, privately run but belonging to the people of Providence. The owners estimate that that it will cost $5.3 million to complete the Perry's renovation. Acquiring the hull, instead of designing and building a new one, has put the organization two years ahead of schedule and saved more than $1 million, it says. But there is much more to be done. The ship will need at least six miles of rigging because when it is finished, it will stand more than 13 stories tall. While it undergoes renovations, the Perry will function as a work in progress for the public, especially students, to enjoy. The hull was initially berthed at Bowen's Wharf in Newport. The ship will return to Newport for its spars, rigging and hardware. The goal is to have the vessel sailing by 2010. The Tall Ships Rhode Island organization changed its name to the Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island to more clearly reflect its own mission. The former organization was known mainly for the many Tall Ships it brought to Newport. "That's a good thing that our reputation precedes us of course," said Bart Dunbar, the president of the non-profit, "but when we are out raising money, it's harder to explain that we are not trying to run a festival but instead building a Tall Ship for education at sea. The new name reflects who we are at this point." 
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