Battleship New Jersey returns to Camden. What repairs have been made – NBC10 Philadelphia

The Battleship New Jersey has been completely refurbished and is back home on the Camden waterfront.

Camden County Commissioners, the Phillie Phanatic and others welcomed the historic U.S. Navy ship back to the New Jersey side of the Delaware River with “a welcome home party featuring food trucks, live music, carnival games and more” on Thursday, June 20, 2024.

“Over the past three months, the 82-year-old vessel has undergone extensive maintenance work to extend its lifespan,” County Commissioner Melina Kane said ahead of the move. “It is an incredible piece of history that completes the Camden Waterfront and we have been eagerly awaiting its return.”

In March, the battleship – which now serves as a museum – made the journey with the help of tugboats along the Delaware River, first to the Paulsboro Marine Terminal before drydocking at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Total repair costs were estimated at approximately $10 million.

The new story of resilience and courage from World War II, ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’, is now in theaters. Philly Live’s Sheila Watko takes us aboard the battleship New Jersey to explore areas reminiscent of scenes from the film.

The ship made the reverse voyage to Paulsboro on June 14, 2024.

The final voyage home took place on June 20 and began just after 11 a.m. when tugboats began pushing the ship.

The journey was nowhere as fast as the Philadelphia-built ship would speed up during its days as a command ship.

NBC10’s Siobhan McGirl is aboard the historic battleship New Jersey on Thursday as tugboats guide the ship back to its home in Camden.

A fleet of other ships – some chartered – joined the battleship on its slow journey.

Commissioners and what appeared to be hundreds of people welcomed the boat back to Camden at a riverside celebration around 1:30 p.m. Children are free to the party, while a $10 donation is suggested for adults.

Built in Philadelphia in the 1940s, the battleship served for approximately 50 years before being retired in February 1991. Since 2001 it has been a floating museum. The ship was built at the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and was launched there in December. August 7, 1942, the first anniversary of the Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbor.

The ship is the most decorated battleship in Navy history, earning distinction in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War and conflicts in the Middle East, the website said. The ship steamed more miles, fought in more battles, and fired more shells in battle than any other battleship.