BARRETT NEWS
The administrator of the National Defense Reserve Fleet on the James River in Fort Eustis, Virginia announced on March 21, 2003 that an agreement had been signed transferring ownership and possession of the former USNS BARRETT (T-AP 196) to a nonprofit organization. The organization was formed and funded by a former military department crew member who has acquired great wealth since his service aboard the Barrett. There was no charge by the government for the transfer.
Within a few days the necessary permits will be obtained and the Barrett will be towed to the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in New Jersey for a complete overhaul and refurbishing. This is the shipyard where the Barret’s keel was laid down June 1, 1949. Permission has been granted to restore the use of the name and hull number. The Barrett has been in the reserve fleet since 1990. The Barrett will be repainted in its former navy gray with its distinctive stack marking of a black band at the top followed by gray, blue and yellow bands. The oil painting of General Barrett is being returned to the ship to once again hang in the main lounge.
Overhaul will proceed round the clock and is expected to be completed in ten weeks. After a rigorous seven to ten day sea trial, the Barrett will make its “maiden” voyage from the shipyard to San Francisco where it will be permanently docked at Fort Mason. The Barrett arrived and departed many times from Fort Mason when it was in service with the Military Sea Transportation Service. San Francisco is preparing a tumultuous welcome for this beautiful ship that so often plied her waters and played such an important part in Bay Area history as well as U.S. history. Reservations for travel aboard the Barrett on this historic return will soon be available by telephone, the internet, or through your travel agent.
The enterprise manager stated that many former crew members, both merchant marine and Navy, have already agreed to return as crew members in the billets they occupied at the time they served aboard. Some former crew members are deceased or not able to return. These crew members will be portrayed or replaced by professional actors.
The Barrett will serve as a floating six-star hotel with restaurants, gift shops, and overnight accommodations. It will be open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The International Hotel Rating Association has always had the sixth star rating but that is only awarded to hotels that both float and are capable of cruising navigable waters under their own power. The Barrett will be available for business meetings, dances, cruises and dinner cruises on the San Francisco bay and reunions (including reunions of former crew members and passengers). Twice a year it will cruise to Hawaii for a five day stay and return.
Daily, and on the other occasions and at other locations, army and navy bands will play as well as occasional guest musicians.
The anonymous benefactor has indicated that he does believe that, in his words, he will make a small fortune with this tremendous opportunity as well as save and restore a beautiful ship that is of great historical significance. When asked his business plan for accomplishing this in light of the enormous costs of restoration and operation, he said that the secret lies in starting with a large fortune.
Public opinion has been overwhelmingly favorable although Senator Daschle (D-W.Va.) criticized the transfer calling it another giveaway to the rich, wondering publicly what was next and wondering would the government now consider selling, leasing or giving away national treasures like the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument, and the like.
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