USS Slater is expected to move to her winter berth in the Port of Rensselaer.
It is estimated that she will pull away from her mooring in Albany at 9:00 a.m. Towing services are being provided by New York State Marine Highway of Troy with the pilot provided by Hudson River Pilots’ Association.
A lot of people question why SLATER must leave Albany for the winter. The answer is that until there is a permanent mooring and ice deflection system at the Albany location, the ship must be moved to prevent damage to the retaining wall. Cost of the permanent mooring and ice deflection system is currently estimated to be approximately $1.5 million. Once this system is in place, the ship will remain open in Albany year-round. Unfortunately, there are no available sources of funding at this time.
USS Slater is the only Destroyer Escort afloat in America and is among only a handful of surviving ships from the longest battle of World War II, the Battle of the Atlantic. This was a battle for which there are no battlefields to roam, no cemeteries to contemplate. This battle stretched for thousands of miles and led thousands of Sailors, merchantmen, and civilians to watery graves. Since there is no “Gettysburg” or “Normandy Beach” for this battle, we commemorate with a ship that sailed the convoy routes and always brought her crew back home safely.
USS Slater is owned and operated by the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum, a private, non-profit organization. The Museum receives no regular Federal, State, or local funding, but is supported through the generosity and patriotism of individuals, foundations, and businesses.
Restoration and maintenance will continue throughout the winter. USS Slater will return to Albany next spring and should re-open to the public sometime in early April. Follow our winter progress by visiting www.ussslater.org.
