Getting Ready For Dry Dock

1 September 1983 to 13 December 1988

By 1983, TEXAS had deteriorated badly over the 35 years since being brought to San Jacintio on 19 April 1948.  The public area condition that visitors could see was run down but it was the below-the-water-line deterioration that raised alarm about the ship's survivability.   Lower interior areas were full of water and structural support in some areas had failed.  The ship's administrators, The Battleship TEXAS Commission, lacked the finances to maintain the ship.  So it was on 1 September 1983 that responsibility for BB35 was transferred to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 

Given the condition of the hull, it was imperative that BB35 be removed from the water to repair the damage.  The method chosen was to move the ship to a dry dock.  The bidding process included a submission from Tampico, Mexico.

The financial aspect of the needed hull-exterior work and berth improvements was enormous. Many groups were involved to come up with the money, which eventually totaled $14,000,000. Donated services saved hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Before TEXAS could be moved, structural work was needed.

• The biggest task was pumping out 1.5 million gallons of fuel oil and water.
• The after trim tank, which is below the Steering Room and Steering Gear Room had lost structural integrity and had to be reframed.
• Welding in the Engine Room was done to restore water tight integrity between the two engine rooms.
• Replacing gaskets on water-tight doors
• Pumps were installed throughout to handing flooding during the tow to Todd’s.

In addition to the structural work, hundreds of artifacts were inventoried and removed.