Battleship New Jersey leaves Camden as floating museum heads toward dry dock
CAMDEN — The Battleship New Jersey, a focal point of the local waterfront since 2001, made its highly anticipated departure today with a celebratory send-off.
The floating museum also "made great time," finishing the first leg of its journey at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal just after 3:15 p.m., said Marshall Spevak, CEO of the museum and memorial.
The original schedule anticipated arrival between 4 and 6 p.m.
The New Jersey's voyage began as tugboats pulled the massive ship into the Delaware River as a large crowd cheered shortly after noon.
Spectators jammed the front of the ship's pier, trying to get the best view and photos as the 887-foot vessel was rotated to head downstream.
Strong winds and music from the Camden Creative Arts High School Band drowned out any creaking of the ship during her departure, but the crowd's eager excitement was palpable in the frigid air.
Passengers also watched aboard two cruise ships — the Rendezvous and Spirit of Philadelphia — that trailed the "Big J's" security perimeter.
Just a short time earlier, one of the battleship's guns had fired a salute that awed the crowd of some 2,000 people. Spectators also saw two New Jersey State Police helicopters conduct a flyover on the Waterfront.
Onlookers also gathered in waterfront viewing spots along the battleship's route to Paulsboro.
People poured out along her route, gathering at Gloucester City's Freedom Pier, Red Bank Battlefield in National Park, and Eagle Point in West Deptford.
Bringing back the 'Navy days'
Earlier in the morning, the museum's gift shop quickly drew a crowd, with elderly veterans and others huddling to escape the nipping cold.
The temperature was just above the freezing point, and a chilling wind blew along the waterfront. But the crowd's energy was warm with excitement and camaraderie.
John "Johnny Q" Quinesso, a 98-year-old Navy veteran of World War II, described the day's events and the turnout as "wonderful."
The Vineland man didn't serve on the battleship but became a tour guide in 2001 to "get back on the water."
Seeing fellow vets and volunteers on Thursday "brings back the Navy days," he said.
Norman Bloomfield, a 90-year-old Navy veteran, carried decades-old photographs depicting his history with the "Black Dragon," another nickname for the battleship.
Bloomfield came to Camden in the early 2000s to work on the ship's restoration. Being back on the pier, he said, "brought back memories."
The battleship's 'Bon Voyage'
As the gates opened at 10 a.m., volunteers distributed American flags and programs to people already carrying blankets, cameras and Navy memorabilia.
When bugler Nan LaCorte played the National Anthem, the only other sounds to be heard were the winds whipping the battleship's flags and the whirring blades of distant helicopters.
Spevak described the historic ship as a “tapestry of 45,000 sailors and Marines" during his opening remarks.
He also drew laughter from an audience of some 2,000 people by describing the ship as "another in a long line of truly great Jersey girls” who doesn't pump her own gas.
Over 400 people, bundled in layers and military paraphernalia, gathered on the pier. Many more were massed along a waterfront walkway.
Getting to dry dock
The battleship had been berthed for more than two decades on the Jersey-side on the Delaware River, and it had gone even longer without needed maintenance.
The ship is moving from Camden to Paulsboro before it heads to the Philadelphia shipyard it was built in in the late 1930s.
Spevak has referred to it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"Just getting to today was a gigantic task in and of itself," he said.
Spevak, who stepped into his role in November of 2023, explained that, amongst all of the excitement and emotions swirling around those involved with the move, there is also a strong level of gratitude for those that made it possible through years of planning.
More: Four tugboats will help move battleship out of port; how they’ll do it
"It's been a very heavy lift," he said, acknowledging the cooperation and support from numerous groups, like military and police organizations.
The ship will stay in Paulsboro for several days for additional preparation before crossing the river to the Philadelphia Navy Yard to be dry docked, a crucial form of maintenance that inspects and repairs the ship's hull.
Navy regulations require decommissioned vessels to be dry docked for maintenance every 20 years.
For the USS New Jersey, it's been over 30.
More about the battleship:
More: Battleship New Jersey by the numbers. Here are some interesting facts
More: Want to tour the Battleship New Jersey in Philly? Here's how to get tickets
More: The Battleship New Jersey is leaving Camden, and these are 5 things you need to know
More: Maintaining a memorial. The Battleship prepares to leave Camden
Kaitlyn McCormick writes about trending issues and community news across South Jersey for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times. If you have a story she should tell, email her at [email protected]. And subscribe to stay up to date on the news you need.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Battleship New Jersey leaves Camden for maintenance, dry dock
