The target date for the USS The Sullivans and Croaker to arrive at drydock has been pushed back, according to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval Park.
Naval Park officials said the earliest possible date for the ships to be drydocked is October 2026. The original drydock target date was October 2025.
The delay is due to administrative delays related to insurance and documentation letterhead.
"Due to administrative delays between the city of Buffalo and the marine management firm, it's not going to happen this year," the Naval Park explained in a newsletter. "After repeated serious flooding events aboard The Sullivans over the past several months, and new leaks aboard the Croaker, these delays come at a debilitating cost."
Naval Park officials say this means the ships face another potentially severe and damaging winter.
In a statement, Buffalo Naval Park Board Chair Adam Poole said that they will continue to work with the city to get these ships into drydock.
"The Buffalo Naval Park and the City of Buffalo share a commitment to the preservation of the ships. While we were hopeful that we could move the ships to drydock in the fall of 2025, it has become clear that the process undertaken by the city has necessitated moving the target date to next year. The $21 million pledged to the project is still in place; however, the city is in control over how and when the funds will be spent. In the meantime, the Naval Park is committed to doing everything within our ability and resources to maintain and preserve the ships until they can be moved to dry dock for long-term repairs. We will continue to work directly with the City of Buffalo to provide them with any support they need to move this project forward."
