Where in the World is USS Slater?
To answer, USS Slater is at Caddell Dry Dock and Repair in Staten Island. Typically, the ship is open to the public in Albany near the beginning of April. This season, after several years of fundraising, the ship has been taken to drydock for repairs to her hull.
It’s been over 20 years since the ship has been in drydock, so this project is due. Drydocking is being funded by private individuals and foundations as no government funding is being used for this project. In fact, the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum, the nonprofit organization that owns and maintains USS Slater, receives no regular Federal, State, or local government funding.
During the drydock period, Slater’s hull will be cleaned and a reinforcing band of steel will be welded around the ship at the waterline. Then, the entire hull will be primed and painted. The budget for the project is $1.2 million. The Museum has raised just over $1 million specifically for drydocking so far.
Destroyer Escort Historical Museum is asking anyone interested in bringing Slater out of drydock in the best shape possible is encouraged to donate to the project. Donations may be made online at the website: ussslater.org.
When the drydocking is complete, the USS Slater will return to Albany and will open to the public. This is expected to be sometime in late May or early June. However, that may change pending unforeseen circumstances or weather issues.
ussslater.org