Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A ship doesn't have to see combat to be damaged. A metal hull can see deterioration as a result of stress, a simple electrical grounding, or condensation extending across years or decades. Battleship NEW JERSEY's Ryan Szimanski, USS KIDD's Parks Stephenson and Tim NesSmith, and USS SLATER's Barry Witte discuss a couple issues being addressed on KIDD during her 2024-25 drydock period at Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors.
For PART 1, go to:
youtu.be/BdKTZo5X5bE?si=MVc6l45jFkKN-2Pj
Thank you to Ryan and Libby for flying down to Houma, Louisiana, to visit KIDD in drydock!
To support the USS KIDD click here:
usskidd.com/product/donations
To donate to Battleship New Jersey, go to:
battleshipnewjersey.org/support/donate
To learn more about USS SLATER, go to:
youtube.com/@USSSlater or
ussslater.org/donate to donate
USS KIDD Drydocking Playlist:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKkghO7WCFIHwwhzE7aocfqlr7jo-HQYa
00:00 Worm Tracks on the Hull?
01:19 Grounding Electricity on KIDD
02:14 Pitting Found After Blasting
03:27 Switchboards
04:43 Renegotiating Contract
05:11 Introducing Barry Witte
07:05 Breakdown of Electrolysis
10:44 Preventing Rust by Paint
11:45 Protecting the Hull by Impress Cathodic Protection
12:22 Importance of Grounding!
13:42 Breakdown of Grounding
16:00 Not All Worm Trails are Electrolysis
17:05 How Old are the Worm Tracks?
18:19 Localized Electrolysis
21:05 Closing
FAQ 1 - USS KIDD (DD-661) is now in ThomaSea shipyard in Houma, LA, undergoing repairs in drydock.
FAQ 2 - She's not leaving Baton Rouge permanently; this is just a visit for repairs.
FAQ 3 - KIDD will be away from Baton Rouge until Spring 2025 due to the 40-foot difference in the seasonal rise and fall of the Mississippi River annually.
FAQ 4 - We will be refurbishing the cradle while the river is down and the ship is away. There are no plans to "demolish the cradle."
FAQ 5 - The rudder was shaved to get her out of her cradle due to silt build-up on the riverbed. It did not "rot right off."
FAQ 6 - Drydock tours are still under discussion. Once a decision is reached, there will be an announcement.
FAQ 7 - No, you cannot "bring the kids down to tour the ship in Houma." She is in a shipyard. That environment is not conducive to a safe touring environment. Hence, the reason drydock tours are still under discussion.
FAQ 8 - Videos and livestreams appear on our YouTube channel.
FAQ 9 - No, we are not restoring her engines. Yes, we know about other ships under power. They were acquired from different sources with different contracts.
#navy #ship #drydock #restoration #electrolysis #science #chemistry
A ship doesn't have to see combat to be damaged. A metal hull can see deterioration as a result of stress, a simple electrical grounding, or condensation extending across years or decades. Battleship NEW JERSEY's Ryan Szimanski, USS KIDD's Parks Stephenson and Tim NesSmith, and USS SLATER's Barry Witte discuss a couple issues being addressed on KIDD during her 2024-25 drydock period at Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors.
For PART 1, go to:
youtu.be/BdKTZo5X5bE?si=MVc6l45jFkKN-2Pj
Thank you to Ryan and Libby for flying down to Houma, Louisiana, to visit KIDD in drydock!
To support the USS KIDD click here:
usskidd.com/product/donations
To donate to Battleship New Jersey, go to:
battleshipnewjersey.org/support/donate
To learn more about USS SLATER, go to:
youtube.com/@USSSlater or
ussslater.org/donate to donate
USS KIDD Drydocking Playlist:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKkghO7WCFIHwwhzE7aocfqlr7jo-HQYa
00:00 Worm Tracks on the Hull?
01:19 Grounding Electricity on KIDD
02:14 Pitting Found After Blasting
03:27 Switchboards
04:43 Renegotiating Contract
05:11 Introducing Barry Witte
07:05 Breakdown of Electrolysis
10:44 Preventing Rust by Paint
11:45 Protecting the Hull by Impress Cathodic Protection
12:22 Importance of Grounding!
13:42 Breakdown of Grounding
16:00 Not All Worm Trails are Electrolysis
17:05 How Old are the Worm Tracks?
18:19 Localized Electrolysis
21:05 Closing
FAQ 1 - USS KIDD (DD-661) is now in ThomaSea shipyard in Houma, LA, undergoing repairs in drydock.
FAQ 2 - She's not leaving Baton Rouge permanently; this is just a visit for repairs.
FAQ 3 - KIDD will be away from Baton Rouge until Spring 2025 due to the 40-foot difference in the seasonal rise and fall of the Mississippi River annually.
FAQ 4 - We will be refurbishing the cradle while the river is down and the ship is away. There are no plans to "demolish the cradle."
FAQ 5 - The rudder was shaved to get her out of her cradle due to silt build-up on the riverbed. It did not "rot right off."
FAQ 6 - Drydock tours are still under discussion. Once a decision is reached, there will be an announcement.
FAQ 7 - No, you cannot "bring the kids down to tour the ship in Houma." She is in a shipyard. That environment is not conducive to a safe touring environment. Hence, the reason drydock tours are still under discussion.
FAQ 8 - Videos and livestreams appear on our YouTube channel.
FAQ 9 - No, we are not restoring her engines. Yes, we know about other ships under power. They were acquired from different sources with different contracts.
#navy #ship #drydock #restoration #electrolysis #science #chemistry
