HOUSTON | Ports/Industry Thread

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https://www.chron.com/gulf-coast/article/battleship-texas-galveston-deal-18467432.php

This artist's rendering projects what the USS Texas could look like once it is safely housed along the heart of Galveston's waterfront.

Battleship Texas Foundation

Battleship Texas much closer to securing permanent home in Galveston

The first step is a ten-year lease with the port, coming in at $20,000 a month or more depending on the weather

By Chris Gray
Updated Nov 4, 2023 8:32 a.m.

Battleship Texas cleared an important hurdle in its quest for a permanent home this week. During its regular meeting on Tuesday, the Galveston Wharves board of trustees authorized the creation of a lease between the Port of Galveston and Battleship Texas Foundation, which operates and maintains the historic warship.

“It’s a big step for us,” said Tony Gregory, the foundation’s president and CEO. “We feel like it's a big win. It’s taken a while to convince the port that we should be where we're going to go, but in the end their leadership responded. We think we have a good agreement, and we're excited to move forward on it.”

The proposed lease would be for 10 years with two additional 10-year options, explained port director and CEO of Galveston Wharves Rodger Rees. Once it has been drafted and signed, which Rees said could happen at the board’s next meeting later this month, the foundation would pay the port $20,000 per month in rent; plus $1.2 million (another $20,000 a month) in case an extreme-weather event or other dire scenario forced the port managers to take drastic measures with the ship like towing her out to sea.