Rough seas have delayed
the arrival of the floating museum USS Iowa at its new permanent home at
the Port of Los Angeles.
The retired battleship,
which was commissioned in 1943 and decommissioned 47 years later, was expected to
begin a journey this week to LA’s Berth 87, but the trip has been stalled by rough
offshore waters in the San Francisco Bay area.
The 887-foot ship was originally
scheduled to depart May 20 on the three-to-four day trip, but as of May 24, the
departure is expected to come no sooner than Memorial Day Weekend, according to
ship operations director and chief engineer Mike Getscher.
When it eventually arrives,
the 45,000-ton vessel is scheduled to open to the public on July 7 at Berth 87 along
the Main Channel, directly south of the World Cruise Center. The Pacific Battleship
Center will offer guided tours and educational programs expected to include overnight
stays and youth camps.
During its heyday, the USS Iowa
took part in every major military conflict from World War II until the post-Cold
War period. It was decommissioned in 1990. In 2011, it was donated to the Los Angeles-based
non-profit Pacific Battleship Center.
