Press Contact:
LA PORTE-- The Battleship Texas Foundation (BTF), with their partners, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Historical Commission, announce that the Battleship Texas will be departing San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site for repairs on August 31st. Repairs will be done at Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporations' Galveston Shipyard. Due to weather or day of delays, the departure is sugject to potential postponement. A livestream video of the departure will be available for the public to view for free on the BTF YouTube channel and Facebook group page.
San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, parts of Independence Parkway, and the Lynchburg Ferry will be closed from the early morning hours on August 31 until the ship hgas moved past the Lynchburg Ferry. The ship can be viewed throughout her route over most of the day. Good viewing locations for the public include, subject to local authority, Bayland Island, Texas City Dike, Seawolf Park, and Pier 21. The ship should pass the Texas City Dike and Seawolf Park around early to midafternoon and be in Galveston by mid to late afternoon.
All updates will be on the BTF website.
Please see the FAQs below for more information.
Battleship Departure FAQs
Q. Is the Battleship Texas moving?
A. Yes. The ship is being towed from San Jacinto to Gulf Copper shipyard in Galveston for repairs to the ship’s hull.
Q. When will the ship leave San Jacinto?
A. August 31st. This date is based on the optimal tides and currents at San Jacinto and Galveston to facilitate the safe movement of the ship. The date is subject to change on short notice, perhaps even the morning of the tow, based on parameters that could affect a successful and safe departure.
More in-depth information
There are several regulatory agencies as well as a marine warranty surveyor that must give approval before the ship can move. Additionally, the drydock must be thoroughly tested to be ready to have the ship floated on to it.
Q. Will San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site be open to the public for viewing the ship’s departure?
A. No, the move is planned to occur during hours the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site is normally closed.
More in depth information:
The Texas Historical Commission (who administers San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site), Texas Parks and Wildlife (who owns the ship and is assisting with the departure), and BTF (who operates the ship on behalf of the state and is running the repair project) plan to keep the site closed until the ship departs. This decision was not made lightly and was reached due to the site already being scheduled to be closed (operating hours are 9am-6pm) and the resources and costs required to safely park and provide safe pedestrian access in the dark early morning hours when the ship is scheduled to leave.
Our focus is the safe tow of the ship from San Jacinto to Gulf Copper Shipyard in Galveston and to minimize any disruptions to Houston Ship Channel Operations.
Q. When will the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site open?
A. The goal is to have the ship out of the slip and navigating down the Houston Ship Channel before the San Jacinto Battleground opens at 9am. However, the San Jacinto Battleground will remain closed until the battleship has started moving down the Houston Ship Channel should the ship not leave by 9am.
Additional Information:
Please note that the Lynchburg Ferry and part of Independence Parkway will be closed the day of the departure and will not open until the ship passes the Lynchburg Ferry.
Q. Will the ship departure be live streamed?
A. Yes. Battleship Texas Foundation will stream the departure, for free, on their YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Facebook – Battleship Texas Foundation Group
YouTube –www.youtube.com/c/BattleshipTexas
Q. Where can I watch the ship moving in person?
A. Though we have no control over any location, there are several locations to watch the ship in motion. These locations include, subject to local authority, Bayland Island, Texas City Dike, Pier 21, and Seawolf Park.
Additional Information:
Because of how close the ship will pass and how long the ship will be visible, the best location maybe the Texas City Dike. We ask people not obstruct any bridges and roads to watch the ship move.
Q. What is the tentative schedule for the ship leaving?
A. We plan to start pulling the ship out of San Jacinto before dawn and arrive in Galveston midafternoon on the tow day. As we get closer, we will announce a tighter timeline.
Q. Will there be an opportunity to see the battleship in the drydock?
A. Yes, from the Pier 21 area. The Battleship Texas Foundation is working on plans for additional, closer viewing opportunities, at a later date.
Q. Will drone flights be allowed?
A. Drone flights within the boundaries of San Jacinto Battleground SHS are by permit only. Per FAA guidelines, flights over or near both the Battleship and Monument are restricted, as are flights over the Ship Channel and industrial neighbors.
Q. Can I follow the ship in my watercraft?
A. Water traffic will be restricted throughout the Ship Channel and within a safety zone of the ship while it is under tow.
Q. How do I get the most accurate, up to date information on the Battleship?
A. You can get accurate, current information at battleshiptexas.org and their social media channels.
Facebook – Battleship Texas Foundation Group
Instagram -@battleshiptexasfoundation
YouTube – www.youtube.com/c/BattleshipTexas