Inspection Report # 1
On 17 August 2018 I arrived in Norfolk to commence a two (2) day inspection of the USS Wisconsin, BB-64.
The "Whisky" is permanently moored across from city hall in downtown Norfolk @ # 1 Waterside Drive.
Mr. R. Clayton Allen is Battleships Operations Manager.
Cell phone # 757-323-5405.
Office # 757-664-1067.
email - [email protected]
A long story short " the email address on the website https://nauticus.org/ is non responsive. [email protected]
After e-mailing Clayton and cc-ing the info.nuaticus.org address I've still not got a response from the "Info address".
No one at the reception desk could identify "who reads e-mails sent to that address".
As I didn't have a first name contact until 1 P.M. on Friday, and Clayton Allen's daughter was getting married on 18 August I was scrambling to make "good contacts".
The Public Relations Specialist Beth Bilderback appeared a bit overwhelmed by my appearance. (Photo attached.)
I began to suspect the Nauticus attraction and the actual volunteers running the show for BB-64 are not exactly a hand in glove operation. Obviously the staff was unprepared for special requests. I have no doubt if you'd like to book an overnight stay aboard the Whisky it would be a smooth event. But as I was on a technical mission the wheels began to fall off the wagon.
So it was time to avoid the negative responses being generated to my inquires and change my plowing technique.
Enter Nicole Nussbaum !
This young woman understood immediately that I was not looking for the normal "this is the port side and the other is starboard tour" geared for grade school kids. While she couldn't change city policy or override the rules she did get me in touch with the "docents with the keys".... and that made all the difference for the remaining time available on Friday and got me a "first up" start on Saturday.
With the grocery list of requested photos from thread followers a course was charted and the battery condition of both cameras checked.
For orientation the photos start at the bow and proceed along the port side towards the stern and then forward on the starboard side.
As I shoot in a very high resolution (6MB) each photo requires downsizing to fit on the WAB.
Please remember I've got a regular job and editing will be a slow process.
All comments will be appreciated as I'm no expert on the Iowa's.
So let's start at the bow.... the distinctive lines of the Iowa hull are illustrated in this photo.
The black paint was applied last year. I learned that you can use special underwater $400/gallon paint and never take the ship out of the water.
The docents couldn't provide an accurate answer but estimated BB-64 has not seen a "drydock" since the 1990's.
On 17 August 2018 I arrived in Norfolk to commence a two (2) day inspection of the USS Wisconsin, BB-64.
The "Whisky" is permanently moored across from city hall in downtown Norfolk @ # 1 Waterside Drive.
Mr. R. Clayton Allen is Battleships Operations Manager.
Cell phone # 757-323-5405.
Office # 757-664-1067.
email - [email protected]
A long story short " the email address on the website https://nauticus.org/ is non responsive. [email protected]
After e-mailing Clayton and cc-ing the info.nuaticus.org address I've still not got a response from the "Info address".
No one at the reception desk could identify "who reads e-mails sent to that address".
As I didn't have a first name contact until 1 P.M. on Friday, and Clayton Allen's daughter was getting married on 18 August I was scrambling to make "good contacts".
The Public Relations Specialist Beth Bilderback appeared a bit overwhelmed by my appearance. (Photo attached.)
I began to suspect the Nauticus attraction and the actual volunteers running the show for BB-64 are not exactly a hand in glove operation. Obviously the staff was unprepared for special requests. I have no doubt if you'd like to book an overnight stay aboard the Whisky it would be a smooth event. But as I was on a technical mission the wheels began to fall off the wagon.
So it was time to avoid the negative responses being generated to my inquires and change my plowing technique.
Enter Nicole Nussbaum !
This young woman understood immediately that I was not looking for the normal "this is the port side and the other is starboard tour" geared for grade school kids. While she couldn't change city policy or override the rules she did get me in touch with the "docents with the keys".... and that made all the difference for the remaining time available on Friday and got me a "first up" start on Saturday.
With the grocery list of requested photos from thread followers a course was charted and the battery condition of both cameras checked.
For orientation the photos start at the bow and proceed along the port side towards the stern and then forward on the starboard side.
As I shoot in a very high resolution (6MB) each photo requires downsizing to fit on the WAB.
Please remember I've got a regular job and editing will be a slow process.
All comments will be appreciated as I'm no expert on the Iowa's.
So let's start at the bow.... the distinctive lines of the Iowa hull are illustrated in this photo.
The black paint was applied last year. I learned that you can use special underwater $400/gallon paint and never take the ship out of the water.
The docents couldn't provide an accurate answer but estimated BB-64 has not seen a "drydock" since the 1990's.
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