The USS Kidd left a salvage dock in Baton Rouge Tuesday morning for Houma, where substantial repairs that could keep it drydocked for months.
Based on vessel's current pace, the Kidd could be in New Orleans Thursday night, said Hunter Svetanics, who is working on a documentary crew following the ship's passage.
The Kidd, a historic World War II destroyer, passed under the Sunshine Bridge near Donaldsonville shortly before 3:15 p.m., the vessel museum director said.
The Fletcher-class ship had been a museum centerpiece and steady landmark on Baton Rouge's downtown waterfront front for more than 40 years but was carefully cut free and moved last Thursday from its moorings to the McKinney Salvage dock just downriver.
A tugboat gets into position as crews prepare to move the USS Kidd from its cradle at the USS Kidd museum so it can be delivered to Houma for repairs on Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
At the McKinney dock, the ship, which has a leaking hull, received final temporary repairs, a cleanout of its tanks and a U.S. Coast Guard blessing for its voyage down the Mississippi River, into the Gulf of Mexico and back up to Houma, Kidd museum and Coast Guard officials said.
"We will be assessing the vessel's watertight integrity, structure, lifesaving supplies and overall suitability to handle the stresses of making a voyage out into the open ocean," Coast Guard officials said in a statement last week about their review process.
Parks Stephenson, executive director of the USS Kidd Veterans Museum, said the ship left the McKinney dock a sooner than expected because crews had to take advantage of good weather for the open-water journey.
"Due to favourable (sic) conditions in the Gulf and a quick approval by the USCG, KIDD left the McKinney dock around 10 a.m. this morning and is already headed down river," Stephenson said Tuesday afternoon.
The USS Kidd is floated downriver on its way to to Thoma-Sea in Houma for hull and other repairs. ORG XMIT: BAT2404251144380029
The Kidd is being towed by the tugboat Crosby Integrity all the way to Houma — it has no steering or power and also had part of its rudder cut so it could be moved from its cradle in Baton Rouge.
"Again, Nature was in charge of the schedule," Stephenson added, "and her departure this morning was a bit of a surprise."
Last week, Stephenson said the ship was moved from its cradle on Thursday on probably the last day possible for months due to falling water levels in the river.
The Kidd is being sent to the Thoma-Sea marine construction company. In addition to hull repairs, it be renovated back to its 1945 configuration and given a new paint job.
Coast Guard officials in New Orleans said that they have been working with McKinney, Thoma-Sea, other contractors on the project, and a variety of federal, pilots and law enforcement agencies and associations to "ensure the vessel is afforded safe passage and escort down the Lower Mississippi River and out into the Gulf."
Stephenson said the ship last had a major overhaul 60 years ago.
The Legislature has approved $10 million for the ship's hull repair, but Stephenson says he is trying to raise more money for the additional improvements.