IT IS POSSIBLE If this ship were saved from the scrap pile to be made useful, it could be moored in Elliott Bay Visitors to Seattle could visit it as a NAVAL MUSEUM It would explain how an Oiler works and is necessary to SUPPORT our NAVY at sea. At the same time it would function in the Sound as a storage container for DISASTER RELIEF Suppiles; work as a SOUND RESEARCH location; provide a stopover living quarters for HOMELESS VETERANS; and even serve as an an Out Post for HOMELAND SECURITY. This is the retired Oiler, USS Kawishiwi AO-146 Named after a river in northern Minnesota.

One location for One location for Kawishiwi could be here in the Duwamish area. The question is, where? In our exciting world of comfortable living, only the Museum would be attractive to the public.

With what little information this author has as to what is available, the FLORIDA STREET area makes sense. Features needed outside of a museum would be maintained more easily here.

Kawishiwi could be located near the walk-on-ferry to downtown. The museum could be used well here. This would have to be studied very well.

Kawishiwi could be located right out on the Duwamish Head She would be attracted to everyone, from all directions. On the other hand if HOMELAND SECURITY were aboard, they would have to best spot in the bay for observing the action. Perhaps Kawishiwi could be moved to these locations on a trial period, before tying to a permanent mooring.

Before Kawishiwi could be brought in and moored… A FLOATING CONCRETE PIER would be under construction in the Duwamish yards. Pilings would be driven at the proposed mooring location. And a landing area built.

Locate Ship Position Start Placing Piling… Place Concrete Floating Pier

LANDING WOULD BE REQUIRED THEN A ROLLING RAMP IF A 2ND PIER WERE DESIRED THE LANDING WOULD BE LARGER

A possible senario for Kawishiwis use. Her mooring would look like this, using the plan views of the previous 3 slides. Oilers are floating Service Stations. They provide fuel, food, ammunition, mail and spare parts to all fighting ships afloat. They transfer these goods to their customers while traveling at several knots to maintain a workable distance from each other. It is called Underway Replenishment UNREP. A Support Museum will display how the oiler works and the history of how they have come about. Oilers will be around for decades because the majority of all defense ships are powered by liquid fuel and will continue to be powered that way because it is much cheaper. Cleaner burning fuel is continually being developed. USS Turner Joy and USS Kitty Hawk are in UNREP with Kawishiwi here in 1963

Here is a possible design for using one pier. The forward cargo area could be put to use by storing DISASTER RELIEF goods right away. Cutting a side entrance and installing a ramp would take time with engineering and construction. Preparing areas for a museum would also require engineering and construction. Water RESEARCH TANKS would be worked in with original engineering. Installing an Elevator is a big plus. USS Hornet in Alameda has an escolator, always out of service. The crews quarters requires a new entry way with an office for HOMELESS VETERANS

Here is where HOMELAND SECURITY comes in. If HOMELAND SECURITY likes the idea of having a post on Kawishiwi, they could use the command area for their offices and quarters. It might not look like they are even there. Perhaps hidden, enclosed boat pens could be along the outside of the pier where RESPONSE BOATS can be maintained. They could even chose to have a Helo-Pad instead of allowing Water Research Tanks

PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE the need for this ship Go on line and download a broucher that can be sent to your legislator. Explain to him or her why you feel this venture would be worth while. Go to: An Oiler has never been used as a museum before.