Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
SALEM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The National Park Service decided to temporarily move a Salem waterfront mainstay ship to Gloucester for the next few months.
Friendship of Salem is the boat in question, and it is a replica of a merchant ship from the 1700s.
This replica was built in 1996 and uses modern technology and materials to meet the safety protocols of today.
The decision to move the boat from it's usual spot in Derby Wharf to Gloucester was made due to numerous necessary repairs.
According to Andrew Donovan of the National Park Service, there's a decent amount of work to be done after 20 years of being in the water.
"This is work happening on the siding of the ship, the railings, the decking, as well as underneath the ship," said Andrew.
Repairs for Friendship of Salem in Gloucester will take at least 8 months, which means the ship will remain moored and drydocked for that length of time.
This stage of maintenance is part of a larger project for the ship that has been ongoing since the winter of 2022.
Repairs are projected to be finished by the summer of 2025, where it will reopen to the public for tours.
The original ship from the 1700s made fifteen journeys around the world, to places like China, Indonesia, India, and Venezuela.
This replica acts as an historical piece for those who want to know more about life at sea during the 18th century.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App | TikTok