Battleship Texas to be placed back into water Tuesday for next phase of restoration

GALVESTON, Texas — The historic Battleship Texas will be placed back into the water for the first time in more than a year on Tuesday. 

The ship is being put back into the water to undergo its next phase of restoration, which would focus on replacing the deck and the ship’s interior. This could last between 18 to 24 months.

Battleship Texas has been undergoing much-needed repairs at the Gulf Copper Dry Dock & Rig Repair in Galveston, Texas since 2022. The goal is to restore the ship to its World War II glory. So far, over 700 tons of steel have been replaced and the ship’s hull has been painted.  

On Tuesday, it’s going to be a process that takes several hours. The Battleship Texas is not going far. It will be moving into the ship channel.

Then it will move back into a new slip at Gulf Copper Dry Dock.

For 18 months, the ship has undergone extensive repairs costing more than $21 million.

“So we’re going to be restoring 60 spaces inside or semi-restoring 60 spaces inside, as well as replacing the wood deck and repairing the super structure, this is going to make it accessible to the public and relaunch it as an exciting, modern technological museum when we re-open to the public,” Matthew Pham, vice-president of development for the Battleship Texas, said.

• 3:30 a.m. Tuesday — The ship’s dry dock will be lowered into the water at Gulf Copper Dry Dock & Rig Repair.
• 4 a.m. Tuesday — Dry dock submersion process begins. 
• 7 a.m. Tuesday — Pilots board Battleship Texas to relocate ship to adjacent slip.
• 7:30 a.m. Tuesday — Battleship Texas moves into channel. 
• 8:30 a.m. Tuesday — Estimated arrival in the channel.
• 9:30 a.m. Tuesday — Estimated arrival in new slip at Gulf Copper Dry Dock & Rig Repair.

If all goes according to plan, Battleship Texas could reopen to the public by late 2025. 

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