Navy Tows JFK from Norfolk to Philadelphia for Storage

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Jacksonville, FL

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By Grayson Kamm
First Coast News
18 March 2008

NORFOLK, VA -- The retired aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy is finally on its way to a storage yard in Philadelphia after an unplanned 8-month stay in Virginia.

The Navy says a tugboat is now towing the decommissioned ship along the eastern US coast, and Big John will be tied up in storage by the end of the week.

Big John will remain there, mothballed, until the Navy decides on future plans for the ship, which range from being sold, scrapped, or used for some other purpose. A group with ties to the First Coast wants to turn the ship into a museum in Miami.

The Kennedy was retired during a ceremony at Naval Station Mayport almost exactly one year ago, on March 23, 2007 after 38 years of service.

Initial plans to tow the ship directly from Mayport to the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in South Philadelphia were put on hold in July 2007 after concerns were raised over whether the water at the pier where JFK was planned to tie up was too shallow.

While the Navy dredged the area around that pier, the Kennedy was taken to Norfolk, Virginia and tied up at a pier not far from where the ship was built in the 1960's.

The Kennedy is expected to arrive in Philadelphia on March 20.

Created: 3/18/2008 10:51:06 AM
Updated: 3/18/2008 10:53:09 AM
Edited by Grayson Kamm, Reporter

© 2008 Associated Press.

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Contributed,
YNCS Don Harribine, USN(ret)