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The catch? You have to be a nautical museum. And being near the water would help.
Submarine Free for the Taking
Thursday, February 22, 2007
By Jack Innis
The Navy has specific guidelines as to who or what may be charged with responsibility for the sub.
SAN DIEGO - If you happen to hear a rumor around the San Diego waterfront that some guy named Don is giving away a 165-ft. submarine to the first qualified taker, believe it.
DON (a term the federal government affectionately applies to the Department of the Navy) is indeed giving away a submarine.
USS Dolphin (AGSS-555) is up for grabs. According to DON, the acoustic research submarine holds the world's depth record for operating submarines (more than 3,000 ft.), can carry scientific payloads (more than 12 tons) and costs a ton of cash to operate annually (actually, 20 tons of $1 bills, but who's counting?).
Although DON often seems to operate with the attitude that price is no object, recent advances in acoustic capabilities now allow regular fleet subs to carry out the same research.
So, on Jan. 15, the 1968 San Diego-based submarine Dolphin was begrudgingly decommissioned and delisted from the Naval Vessel Register.
DON immediately began searching for a new owner. It might be searching for a long time. Although DON spent about $60 million on Dolphin after she caught fire in 2002, annual operating costs exceed $18 million, according to an Associated Press article.
And like any self-respecting wealthy eccentric in the position of giving away something of questionable value, DON attached a few rather sticky provisos.
Dolphin can't go to a private individual. She can't be used commercially or sold for scrap. She can't be turned into an artificial reef.
So what does that leave?
Well, if you happen to be a San Diego-based museum or museum-like organization with waterfront access and willing to keep the vessel on public display - she could be yours.
"It is in the best interest of the government to limit consideration to entities that will provide permanent berthing in San Diego for public display of the ex-Dolphin, thus recognizing the submarine's service in its historic homeport, while avoiding DON's need to move the vessel to another location pending completion of the donation process," DON stated in its only advertisement so far in the Federal Register. "Eligible recipients include : (1) Any state, commonwealth, or possession of the United States, or any municipal corporation or political subdivision thereof; (2) the District of Columbia; or (3) any organization incorporated as a nonprofit entity under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code that will provide permanent berthing and display the vessel in San Diego."
That seems to narrow the field considerably. The only existing organizations seemingly capable of accepting the submarine are the San Diego Maritime Museum and the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum (USS Midway). But at $18 million a year to operate (granted, that number could decrease slightly with the vessel in static display mode) neither organization would likely adopt the submarine without a full vote of the board of directors.
The San Diego Maritime Museum may be out of the running since it already has a submarine: the 1970s-era Foxtrot Class diesel electric attack submarine B-39.
One thing the San Diego Maritime Museum discovered about submarines is that they're tricky to open to public display. Despite their size, submarines are so packed with machinery and gear that there's very little interior elbowroom.
In fact, even though the 300-ft. B-39 is double Dolphin's length and girth, the San Diego Maritime Museum advises, "Persons that have trouble bending, crouching or climbing or are uncomfortable in confined spaces may have difficulty touring the B-39 submarine."
San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum Marketing Director Scott McGaugh said the organization is not interested.
"It's been our plan from the beginning to be an aircraft carrier museum. A submarine is not part of our long-term plans," he said.
Even if the Midway organization wanted Dolphin, the permits would be very difficult to obtain. "We'd need all new permits," said McGaugh, who was involved in the process of bringing Midway to San Diego. "We secured more than three-dozen permits as part of our original plan, from the California Coastal Commission, San Diego Unified Port District, city of San Diego, Environmental Protection Agency, Coast Guard and others."
Any organization interested should know that DON will only give consideration to those who provide a rather complete set of plans, including business, financial, technical, mooring, towing, maintenance, environmental, curatorial, museum and community support.
Moreover, each plan must be broken down into sub-plans (no pun intended). For instance, the maintenance plan must include long- and short-term commitments including "preservation and a periodic maintenance schedule, underwater hull inspections, emergency response and fire/flood/intrusion control, pest control, security, periodic drydocking, and the qualifications of the maintenance team," according to DON's ad in the Federal Register.
In addition, DON may visit the facility at any time to assure its complete satisfaction with Dolphin's operation and condition.
Those not yet dissuaded from considering providing a San Diego waterfront home for an aging research submarine have but a few days to forward a letter of intent to DON's functionaries. Upon receipt of such letter by March 3, DON will grant six months thereafter to create a set of plans and sub plans (pun intended).
Prospective submarine owners should contact: Commander, Program Executive Office Ships (PEO SHIPS), PMS333, Navy Inactive Ships Program, Attn.: Gloria Carvalho (PMS 333G), c/o Columbia Research Corp., 1201 M St., SE, Ste. 010, Washington, D.C. 20003, or call (202) 781-0485.
Submarine Free for the Taking
Thursday, February 22, 2007
By Jack Innis
The Navy has specific guidelines as to who or what may be charged with responsibility for the sub.
SAN DIEGO - If you happen to hear a rumor around the San Diego waterfront that some guy named Don is giving away a 165-ft. submarine to the first qualified taker, believe it.
DON (a term the federal government affectionately applies to the Department of the Navy) is indeed giving away a submarine.
USS Dolphin (AGSS-555) is up for grabs. According to DON, the acoustic research submarine holds the world's depth record for operating submarines (more than 3,000 ft.), can carry scientific payloads (more than 12 tons) and costs a ton of cash to operate annually (actually, 20 tons of $1 bills, but who's counting?).
Although DON often seems to operate with the attitude that price is no object, recent advances in acoustic capabilities now allow regular fleet subs to carry out the same research.
So, on Jan. 15, the 1968 San Diego-based submarine Dolphin was begrudgingly decommissioned and delisted from the Naval Vessel Register.
DON immediately began searching for a new owner. It might be searching for a long time. Although DON spent about $60 million on Dolphin after she caught fire in 2002, annual operating costs exceed $18 million, according to an Associated Press article.
And like any self-respecting wealthy eccentric in the position of giving away something of questionable value, DON attached a few rather sticky provisos.
Dolphin can't go to a private individual. She can't be used commercially or sold for scrap. She can't be turned into an artificial reef.
So what does that leave?
Well, if you happen to be a San Diego-based museum or museum-like organization with waterfront access and willing to keep the vessel on public display - she could be yours.
"It is in the best interest of the government to limit consideration to entities that will provide permanent berthing in San Diego for public display of the ex-Dolphin, thus recognizing the submarine's service in its historic homeport, while avoiding DON's need to move the vessel to another location pending completion of the donation process," DON stated in its only advertisement so far in the Federal Register. "Eligible recipients include : (1) Any state, commonwealth, or possession of the United States, or any municipal corporation or political subdivision thereof; (2) the District of Columbia; or (3) any organization incorporated as a nonprofit entity under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code that will provide permanent berthing and display the vessel in San Diego."
That seems to narrow the field considerably. The only existing organizations seemingly capable of accepting the submarine are the San Diego Maritime Museum and the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum (USS Midway). But at $18 million a year to operate (granted, that number could decrease slightly with the vessel in static display mode) neither organization would likely adopt the submarine without a full vote of the board of directors.
The San Diego Maritime Museum may be out of the running since it already has a submarine: the 1970s-era Foxtrot Class diesel electric attack submarine B-39.
One thing the San Diego Maritime Museum discovered about submarines is that they're tricky to open to public display. Despite their size, submarines are so packed with machinery and gear that there's very little interior elbowroom.
In fact, even though the 300-ft. B-39 is double Dolphin's length and girth, the San Diego Maritime Museum advises, "Persons that have trouble bending, crouching or climbing or are uncomfortable in confined spaces may have difficulty touring the B-39 submarine."
San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum Marketing Director Scott McGaugh said the organization is not interested.
"It's been our plan from the beginning to be an aircraft carrier museum. A submarine is not part of our long-term plans," he said.
Even if the Midway organization wanted Dolphin, the permits would be very difficult to obtain. "We'd need all new permits," said McGaugh, who was involved in the process of bringing Midway to San Diego. "We secured more than three-dozen permits as part of our original plan, from the California Coastal Commission, San Diego Unified Port District, city of San Diego, Environmental Protection Agency, Coast Guard and others."
Any organization interested should know that DON will only give consideration to those who provide a rather complete set of plans, including business, financial, technical, mooring, towing, maintenance, environmental, curatorial, museum and community support.
Moreover, each plan must be broken down into sub-plans (no pun intended). For instance, the maintenance plan must include long- and short-term commitments including "preservation and a periodic maintenance schedule, underwater hull inspections, emergency response and fire/flood/intrusion control, pest control, security, periodic drydocking, and the qualifications of the maintenance team," according to DON's ad in the Federal Register.
In addition, DON may visit the facility at any time to assure its complete satisfaction with Dolphin's operation and condition.
Those not yet dissuaded from considering providing a San Diego waterfront home for an aging research submarine have but a few days to forward a letter of intent to DON's functionaries. Upon receipt of such letter by March 3, DON will grant six months thereafter to create a set of plans and sub plans (pun intended).
Prospective submarine owners should contact: Commander, Program Executive Office Ships (PEO SHIPS), PMS333, Navy Inactive Ships Program, Attn.: Gloria Carvalho (PMS 333G), c/o Columbia Research Corp., 1201 M St., SE, Ste. 010, Washington, D.C. 20003, or call (202) 781-0485.
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