PHILADELPHIA SECTION
THE SOCIETY OF NAVAL ARCHITECTS AND MARINE ENGINEERS
C H A I R VICE - CHAIR SECRETARY/TREASURER EXECUTIVE TIMOTHY KEYSER ROD SUTHERLAND JEREMY SMALL C O M M I T T E E U.S.ARMY CORPS OF NDI ENGINEERING AKER PHILLY SHIPYARD GREG MORROW E N G I N E E R S 100 GROVE ROAD 2100 KITTY HAWK AVENUE SANJAY DESHMUK MARINE DESIGN CENTER P.O. BOX: 518 PHILADELPHIA, PA 19112 AL LEVESQUE 100 PENN SQUARE EAST THEROFARE, N.J. 08086 [email protected] MITCHELL D. WALKER PHILADELPHIA, PA. 19107 [email protected] (215) 875-2665 MICHAEL KEARNEY [email protected] (856) 848-0033 DON LINDQUIST M Y . M I L DAVE MOORHEAD (215) 656-6171 DENNIS PURVES
HERRON MILLER
JIM SANIAL
THE SOCIETY OF NAVAL ARCHITECTS AND MARINE ENGINEERS
PHILADELPHIA SECTION
PRESENTS
WEDNESDAY MAY 19, 2010
CRUISER USS OLYMPIA HISTORY AND PRESERVATION EFFORTS
BY Jesse Lebovics Manager of Historic Ships Olympia and Becuna Independence Seaport Museum SUMMARY
The oldest steel-hulled American warship afloat, Olympia served as Commodore George Dewey's flagship during the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898. In that engagement, Spanish naval forces in the Philippines were handed a smashing defeat, securing the Philippines for the United States and embarking the nation on an expanded role as a major force in not only the Pacific, but also world affairs. The cruiser was born out of a program of ships for the "New Navy" of the 1880s and 1890s designed to correct the deficiencies of a weakened and neglected naval force. This program was directly responsible for the rise of the steel shipbuilding industry of the United States. Olympia is the last remaining ship built during that program and the sole surviving naval combatant of the Spanish-American War. The cruiser later served as the training vessel for the U.S. Naval Academy until 1909 before being reactivated for World War I where she patrolled off New York and participated in the allied landings in Murmansk in 1918. Olympia 's last major mission was the return of the Unknown Soldier from World War I for reburial in Arlington National Cemetery. Olympia was decommissioned in 1922, and saved in 1954 from scrapping. In 1996, the Independence Seaport Museum assumed responsibility for maintaining the vessel. USS Olympia is a National Historic Landmark and the triple expansion engines are National Historic Engineering Landmarks. This presentation will discuss Olympia’s background, her current condition, and details of preservation efforts including, stability calcs, hull plating surveys, and specs and cost estimates for docking and re-decking. Various funding issues will also be addressed.
BIOGRAPHY
Mr. Lebovics became Manager of Historic Ships at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia in 1999 and is responsible for all aspects of ship restoration, maintenance and operations involving the Cruiser Olympia and Submarine Becuna. He supervises direct reports and coordinates the efforts of more than 70 volunteers and staff and conducts outreach to state and local veterans and ship enthusiast groups for development efforts.
Mr. Lebovics manages routine maintenance and capital improvement programs including oversight of welding, plumbing, carpentry, and electrical work to improve ship’s watertight integrity, historic authenticity, systems and appearance, and compliance to all relevant regulations and standards. He has completed preservation projects to survey the Olympia hull condition, restore watertight bulkhead integrity, restore the pilot house, remove hazardous materials, and expand public access.
Prior to joining the Independence Seaport Museum, Mr. Lebovics worked as a shipwright, engineer, crew, and youth program director on a number of historic preservation projects including the Jeanie Johnston Irish famine ship, USS Constellation, Submarine Torsk, Lightship Chesapeake, schooner Lettie Howard, and tall ship Clipper City.
Mr. Lebovics holds a bachelor’s in history from Earlham College in Richmond, IN and has done post-graduate work in archival research and mathematics.
JOIN US:
WEDNESDAY ~ MAY 19 , 2010
Where: Ramada Inn - Philadelphia Airport South 76 Industrial Highway Essington, PA 19029 Phone: 610-521-9600 / Fax: 610-521-9388
Dinner Cost: $25 for member, $30 for non-member, Free for students Cocktail Hour (hotel bar): 5:30 pm ~ Dinner (banquet room): 6:30 pm (ASNE and other Engineering Society Members pay member price)
For reservations or information, please call or send Email by Monday May 17, 2010
Jeremy Small: (215) 875-2665: [email protected]
If you have any questions, please let me know. Or contact
Timothy Keyser: (215) 656-6171: [email protected]