WWII destroyer The Sullivans partially sinks in New York

The historic WWII destroyer USS The Sullivans, which is now a museum ship in the state of New York, has partially sunk at the Military Park pier on Buffalo’s waterfront.

Rescue efforts have commenced to save the decommissioned World War II US Navy ship, which is listing heavily to one side.

Large pumps have been used on-site but it has been estimated that more than 3 million gallons of water are inside the ship. Now fuel oil leaching into the water has halted operations.

USS The Sullivans

In its latest update on the rescue operation, US Coast Guard (USCG) Buffalo Sector states: ‘Dewatering operations on board USS The Sullivans has temporarily halted due to the introduction of fuel oil into the water. The progressive flooding and positioning of the ship has caused oil from consolidated tanks onboard to leak and escape from the vessel. Clean up efforts have begun and will continue until the oil has been removed from the harbour.’

USS The Sullivans, is named in honour of the five Sullivan brothers who, serving together on the light cruiser USS Juneau, were all killed in action on its sinking around 13 November 1942. USS The Sullivans is a Fletcher-Class destroyer that saw action in World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War.

The Sullivans destroyer ship

Speaking about the current incident, Commander Bill Mckinstry said: “Failure is not an option. We are here to save The Sullivans.”

Despite some reports on social media, the USCG has been clear that ‘there have been no discussions between the Naval Park and the Coast Guard about scrapping the ship.’

USS Destroyer The Sullivans

Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park says it is ‘working with marine engineers and members of BIDCO Marine Group, the Buffalo Fire Department, Buffalo Police Department, Homeland Security, and Coast Guard to assess the problem, minimise damage, and remove water from the ship.

‘For over a year, we have been working hard to preserve USS The Sullivans and that work continues today and into the future.’

Save the Sullivans, a charitable donation page, has been set up with a goal of raising the $1,000,000 dollars needed to permanently repair the USS The Sullivans.