Posted on Friday, April 30, 2010 by Peter Knego
USNS GENERAL EDWIN D. PATRICK as she is nudged into a temporary berth at BAE Systems, San Francisco, prior to her final departure. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2010.
After nearly two weeks at San Francisco’s BAE Systems’ drydock where her hull was scraped free of lead-based paints and her valves tested for any sort of leaks, the majestic USNS GENERAL EDWIN D. PATRICK was lowered back into the water today and moved to a berth at the shipyard where she will rest until Saturday morning, May 1, when she will be towed to Brownsville, TX for scrapping. The PATRICK was retired in 1969 and has spent the past 41 years in layup in the Suisuin Bay reserve fleet. A full blog and mini-video will follow soon.
UPDATE: The ship did not depart Saturday, May 1, as planned. New departure tentatively set for Sunday, May 2. Due to high winds off the coast of California, the departure has now been moved to Monday, May 3…
bob
April 30, 2010 at 9:49 am
Beautiful old ship. Sad to see her go.
Guy
May 1, 2010 at 8:52 am
I thought that the American people was sharing the same interest for old and historical vessels as the British people. Obviously not, since this one will go as probably well as the glorious Liner ” United States”… Incidentally the French did the same with the ex-France and the carrier “Clemenceau”. At that time I raise many protests myself !
David Walker
May 1, 2010 at 10:51 am
I’ve been watching the webcams and didnt see her go out yet. I also dont see her on the POSF list as even being in SF anymore. Is she already gone?
David Walker
May 1, 2010 at 10:56 am
I called BAE out in SF and they told me she isnt going out today (Saturday) and ‘maybe tomorrow’.
Jonathan
May 1, 2010 at 11:00 am
Did the Navy considered donating the ship to a preservation group?
Corey
May 1, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Another piece of history gone. Unfornutely only people like us on maritime matters care about such things. It all comes down to money. If our country doesn’t care about the s.s. United states they won’t care about this ship. I can’t believe the French didn’t save the Norway. I went on the Norway to france in 96 and the French loved that ship. I wished they would of saved the funnels and used them on a new ship. I like cruising but I don’t feel passion about new ships like I did on old ships. I used to stare at old ships for hours in port of la. I lived in Maui in mid nineties and I would visit the independence once a week in port. It’s hard to look at queen Mary in long beach she is such disrepair. Oh well it’s life. Things change and u can’t save everything. Thank u again Peter knego for web site. Thanks Corey Yack
Ed Zimmerman
May 1, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Sad to see her end. I sailed on the Patrick to Taiwan as a military dependent, was a very comfortable ship more so than her USNS companions the Mitchel, Breckenridge and MM Patrick which was nick named “Mickey Mouse”, had a tendency to rock and roll quite a bit even when in moderate seas. ed
patrick carter
May 2, 2010 at 8:24 am
What a sad sight….i remember sailing to Hawaii from San Franciso on the PATRICK in 1961 along with my entire family as my father was in the army and was reassigned. Three years later, we sailed back to California on the LURLINE. Those were the days…..thanks for this wonderful site.
Patrick
David Walker
May 3, 2010 at 6:32 am
This from BAE Systems:
David, due to weather conditions outside the Golden Gate and south of here the Patrick’s departure was delayed until today, May 3, at 1100 local
David Walker
May 3, 2010 at 9:45 am
At 9:45am PST AIS show three tugs (Alexandra, Orion, and Taurus) at Pier 70.
David Walker
May 3, 2010 at 10:46 am
It appears that approximately 10:42am PST the tugs took her in tow and slowly departed Pier 70. Her last journey begins…
David Walker
May 3, 2010 at 11:35 am
The tugs Alexandra and Taurus are towing her out of SF Bay at this time and should be passing under the Golden gate Bridge within the hour.
David Walker
May 3, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Some webcam grabs I got this afternoon as she was towed from SF:
http://www.travelserver.net/travelpage/ubb-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=16&t=000468
David Walker
May 3, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Peter did you say you were getting pictures and a
mini-movie?
David Walker
May 3, 2010 at 2:35 pm
The USNS Mission Santa Ynez departed BAE Systems in San Francisco about two weeks ago and arrived in the Panama Canal this morning:
http://www.travelserver.net/travelpage/aspgallery/view_ad.asp?Ad_ID=3458
Peter Knego
May 3, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Hi David,
Thanks so much for posting all the updates to the comments here. I am sure many of our readers appreciate that. Just spent the past four hours “chasing” her out of the Bay, first at BAE from her lines dropping at about 10:40 this morning, to Pier 32 to see her pass under the Bay Bridge, then up to the lookout near the Golden Gate to get her there, then finally at Land’s End, where she slowly passed Point Bonita and entered a white-capped sea. A coast guard cutter was hovering around the tow and I wonder if there are second thoughts. Anyway, cannot load photos yet but will start probably tonight. Video and blog will take a day or two and the POPE story is just about to unfold, so stay tuned. All the best, Peter….
David Walker
May 3, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Amazing effort you put into this project of yours. I can’t wait to see them!!!! I am sure it was worth it, it looked to be a beautiful day there. AIS showed it was the USCGC Aspen but she headed north. The PATRICK is currently 12 miles off the coast and doing about 5 knots in tow. I also looking toward to the POPE coming down and doing this all again!
Gary Bossey
July 15, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Sailed fom Korea to Taiwan then to Japan the 18 days aboard this vessel to come home for discharge, Not being of high rank I never see the beautiful part of the ship, mostly nthe third or fouthe deck down. Have some nice photos of her though. What a wast to scrap her. US is such a wasteful country.