BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park opens Wednesday for its 45th season. It is known for its landmark naval ship, the USS The Sullivans, which was in dire straits nearly two years ago when it began listing due holes in its hull.

It has been patched up and righted since, but park leaders said it needs extensive repairs if the ship is going to remain at Canalside for the long-term.

“I can honestly say to you that she is in great shape right now,” said Paul Marzello, president and CEO of the Naval Park. “However, there's a big however, right? We have spent an awful lot of money on what we call the 'survivability plan.' And that’s just making sure that she is stable.”

The plan is to dry dock the ship by 2025 and replace the hull. The difficulty with that is, the nearest dry dock is in Erie, Pennsylvania — almost 100 miles away. Additionally, Marzello said the Naval Park only has $8 million of an estimated $21 million total investment needed. Those funds come from local, state and federal funding as well as donations. Marzello said the ship should be fine for the summer, but it is pertinent that it gets a new hull as soon as possible.

“She’s not gonna get any younger. She’s 80 years old," he said. "That hole is deteriorating every year. There's nothing we can do about that. We're going to try and patch her as best we can. And that's why we're feeling that she's secure right now. But we know at any time she could blow another hole. We could have another incident.”

In the meantime, the USS The Sullivans is opening along with the USS Little Rock and Croaker submarine for tours as well as other attractions at the Naval Park.

Here is a list of events happening this spring:

• April 6: Overnight Encampment Program begins 
• May 4: Star Wars-themed event with characters and activities from 12-5:30 p.m.
• May 26: Showing of the film “The Fighting Sullivans”
• June 1: Opening of exhibition in the museum building called “Battery Mates: Baseball in the Time of War”