The former USS Independence aircraft carrier is scheduled to enter the jetties of the Brazos Santiago Pass between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on June 1 on its way to International Shipbreaking Ltd.
The former USS Independence aircraft carrier is scheduled to enter the jetties of the Brazos Santiago Pass between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on June 1 on its way to International Shipbreaking Ltd.
Robert Berry, vice president of ISL, part of the EMR Group, said the 60,000-ton carrier is scheduled to arrive off the coast early in the morning. While getting through the jetties isn’t a problem, the tugboat pilots insist on waiting until slack tide to bring it through the pass and into the ship channel, since the vessel is very large and a couple of the turns are difficult, he said.
“They like the slack water and I don’t blame them,” Berry said.
As of Tuesday morning the Independence was about 240 miles out of Brownsville and making steady headway under tow, despite the tugboat losing a main engine last week, causing a slight delay.
A ceremony to honor the decommissioned carrier and the veterans who served aboard her will take place at Dolphin Cove in Isla Blanca Park, beginning approximately when the Independence enters the jetties, he said.
