Update 4/15/22: Condition of USS The Sullivans improves as pumps work around the clock at Buffalo Naval Park

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The retired Fletcher-class destroyer, U.S.S. The Sullivans, which is docked at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, has begun taking on water faster than ever before. 

By midday Thursday, the ship had sunk to the point where water had reached the top deck at the stern of the vessel and it developed a severe list to the starboard side.

"We’ve got a committed group down here," said park president Paul Marzello. "We’re not going to give up the ship and failure is not an option."

Marzello said they believe there was a breach on the right side of the hull Wednesday night. He said crews trying to stabilize the 79-year-old vessel are pumping out up to 13,000 gallons a minute.

"I think we’ve seen the worst, but I don’t know," he said. "I will let you know that this ship will be saved. We will right this ship and it will not go down. We are taking this extremely seriously.

The ship has been taking on water for some time after the hull was damaged by wind and weather. Fundraising efforts have been underway to make repairs. Earlier this month, Rep. Brian Higgins announced that nearly $500,000 in federal funding had been secured to help keep the ship afloat.

Officials say a team of divers had been working on the ship, but was pulled from the water last year when the water became too cold for the epoxy to seal. They were scheduled to continue work this coming Monday.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Buffalo native, tweeted that state agencies were on site and ready “to help revive this treasure and symbol of perseverance.”

Mayor Byron Brown released a statement on Thursday saying:

"This morning, the U.S.S. The Sullivans took on water and is partially sinking due to a major hull breach. Efforts are under way to evaluate the situation and take appropriate action to preserve this critical piece of our nation's naval heritage. The Department of Public Works and the Buffalo Fire Department are on site and coordinating with the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Servicemen's Park staff to determine the next course of action."

The naval park said on social media Thursday that the ships and the museum would both be closed.

The decommissioned Fletcher-class Destroyer was the largest and most important class of U.S. destroyers in World War II, named in honor of the five Sullivan brothers from Waterloo, Iowa who were killed in action when the U.S.S. Juneau was sunk by the Japanese in the South Pacific during World War II. U.S.S. The Sullivans, a National Historic Landmark, saw action in the Pacific Theater, shooting down Japanese planes, and rescuing American pilots, and was also part of the Korean War and Cuban Missile Crisis. 

The U.S.S. The Sullivans is one of four decommissioned Naval vessels at the park.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.