THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 9, 1994 TAG: 9406090497
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JACK DORSEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940609 LENGTH: NORFOLK
Destined for retirement in August - a permanent berth in mothballs at best, the scrap heap at worst - the 18,000-ton ship is getting serious consideration from New York City as a floating commercial heliport.
{REST} The ship, which is to arrive back in Norfolk today, left New York City earlier this week after taking part in the 1994 Fleet Week celebrations with other Navy ships.
Lawrence Sowinski is one of several New York officials who wants to see the 31-year-old ship sail back up the Hudson one last time.
``It is a very rare opportunity for the city, which so desperately wants to improve its helicopter service, to get a vessel for free,'' said Sowinski, director of the USS Intrepid Sea-Air Museum on the Hudson River.
City officials have become increasingly concerned about safety as sightseeing by air has increased over Manhattan. An estimated 180 helicopters operate from existing helipads on the island.
Aside from the congestion, there are severe wind drafts as helicopters take off and land in the canyons of New York's skyscrapers.
Add to that the noise and pollution complaints from people living on the East Side, where three heliports are located, and you have a city in search of an alternative.
The best ones so far are expensive, Sowinski said: renovating an old pier for $12 million or building a floating barge for $100 million to $150 million.
Sowinski is seeking Navy approval for New York to take possession of the $400 million Guadalcanal. The museum would operate the ship as a municipal heliport and attraction.
The Navy is still considering the plan.
``It is something we have never done before,'' said Charles Cart, a spokesman for the Naval Sea Systems Command, which decides what becomes of outdated ships. ``But there is interest up there in doing this and we are looking into the possibilities of how to do it.''
Other retired ships - like Sowinski's Intrepid, an aircraft carrier formerly based in Norfolk - have found life after death as city museums. The Navy has received requests to use them as restaurants, hotels, even prisons, but none has been authorized.
``If anyone can get it done, I suppose Larry Sowinski and his people can pull this off,'' Cart said.
It would cost between $7 million and $8 million to adapt the ship to its new use and have it conform to city codes, Sowinski said.
The flight deck could conduct daily helicopter operations, with its two large cargo elevators taking aircraft to the hangar deck below where they could be serviced and stored.
Helicopters could be refueled on board, and, with room for 680 crew members and up to 1,900 troops, the ship is big enough to offer all kinds of other possible uses.
``It would be wonderful,'' Sowinski said. ``What a great use of everybody's tax money. With the Guadalcanal the city would gain the largest, most capable helicopter base in the world and we would maintain the museum for the men who served aboard.''
The next step is for Sowinski and his group to raise the millions needed. Somewhere in the process, Congress must grant final permission.
The ship is scheduled to be decommissioned in Norfolk on Aug. 30, then be taken to a shipyard where its propulsion system would be removed.
Sowinski plans to be at the retirement ceremony, closer than he is now to holding title to the ship.
by CNB