Dismantling Of Old, Sinking Showboat Under Way
Becky Thatcher Was Brought To Pittsburgh Last Year
UPDATED: 12:49 pm EST March 9, 2010
Email
Print
Comments
NEVILLE ISLAND, Pa. -- The U.S. Coast Guard said the owner of a retired showboat that's docked in Neville Island and sinking into the Ohio River has reached an agreement with a demolition company to begin removal of the vessel.
Crews started dismantling the Becky Thatcher on Monday. It was brought to the Pittsburgh area last fall with the hope of reopening it as a restaurant, but it started taking on water Feb. 19. Video - 
Showboat Sinks Into Ohio River Investigators with the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh have been visiting the area periodically to check on the partially submerged 84-year-old boat."Due to the threat to navigation from the vessel and floating debris, a Captain of the Port (COTP) Order was issued to the owner, requiring him to secure the vessel, stabilize damaged portions of the vessel, and submit a written salvage plan to the Coast Guard before initiating salvage operations," said a written statement from the Coast Guard.The wooden upper decks should be removed by midweek. After that, a diver will inspect the boat's hull to find out what caused it to sink. Owner Jeffrey Nevin thinks there may have been an impact with an object in the water, or maybe it was the weight of snow that collected on the deck.The boat's owner had hoped to get federal stimulus money to try to save the boat before salvage efforts began.Delta Demolition started the salvage operation on Monday, after a plan in accordance with the COTP order was approved.If the hull is in good shape, it could be refurbished and sold. If not, it would be sold for scrap.Built in 1926, the Becky Thatcher was used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to inspect and survey rivers.It was retired in 1961 and used as a floating restaurant and museum in Missouri.
|
Showboat Sinks Into Ohio River Investigators with the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh have been visiting the area periodically to check on the partially submerged 84-year-old boat."Due to the threat to navigation from the vessel and floating debris, a Captain of the Port (COTP) Order was issued to the owner, requiring him to secure the vessel, stabilize damaged portions of the vessel, and submit a written salvage plan to the Coast Guard before initiating salvage operations," said a written statement from the Coast Guard.The wooden upper decks should be removed by midweek. After that, a diver will inspect the boat's hull to find out what caused it to sink. Owner Jeffrey Nevin thinks there may have been an impact with an object in the water, or maybe it was the weight of snow that collected on the deck.The boat's owner had hoped to get federal stimulus money to try to save the boat before salvage efforts began.Delta Demolition started the salvage operation on Monday, after a plan in accordance with the COTP order was approved.If the hull is in good shape, it could be refurbished and sold. If not, it would be sold for scrap.Built in 1926, the Becky Thatcher was used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to inspect and survey rivers.It was retired in 1961 and used as a floating restaurant and museum in Missouri. - Your County: More Allegheny County News Headlines
- u local: Share Your Photos And Videos With Us
- Mobile: Get WTAE Headlines On Your Phone, BlackBerry, PDA
- Facebook: Become A Fan Of Channel 4 Action News
- E-Mail Headlines: We Send The Latest Pittsburgh News To You!
- RSS: Add Us To Your iGoogle Or My Yahoo Page
- Twitter: Follow PittsburghNews4 | More Accounts
Copyright 2010 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
