Repairs are underway for the Tall Ship Providence. The historic ship was destroyed last year after toppling over in windy conditions in the Newport shipyard.
A shipment of Douglas fir tree limbs arrived in Rhode Island from Washington State last week to rebuild the vessel. Captain Thorpe Leeson said work has begun rebuilding the masts and booms out of the massive limbs.
“They’ve been debarked, and are perfectly round, but not to the dimensions that they need to be,” said Leeson. “So they need to be tapered and shaved down, but it’s a huge start because it proves we’re on our way.”
The Tall Ship Providence bills itself as Rhode Island’s official Flagship. The original ship was part of Colonial America’s first navy. The replica was used in several Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
Leeson says the damage to the ship totaled some $500,000. Leeson hopes to have the Providence back in the water by summer 2017.
