100-year-old battleship USS Texas springs massive leak

Written by Associated Press

Thursday, 14 June 2012 10:24

The USS Texas, which saw duty in both World Wars, was launched in 1912. Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

LA PORTE, Texas (AP) – Ship caretakers are working quickly to pump gallons of bilge water from the 100-year-old Battleship Texas and repair holes that caused the vessel to list dangerously over the weekend.

Ship manager Andy Smith says the crew is first pumping water from the bottom levels of the ship. He says a tanker is skimming oil from the water to ensure it doesn't run off into the Houston Ship Channel. A boom has been strung to contain any oil the tanker misses.

Smith says once the water is removed from the battleship that fought in World Wars I and II, the crew will patch the holes that caused the leaks.

The battleship sits on Buffalo Bayou and is now a museum.

AP-WF-06-13-12 0805GMT

ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

The USS Texas, which saw duty in both World Wars, was launched in 1912. Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Last Updated on Thursday, 14 June 2012 10:40