[Judy Patsch]

News from the sternline telegraph this week: instead of being cut up and sent to China with the superstructure, the MQ's hull was bought and is in drydock being made into a deck barge. Likewise, the ADMIRAL's hull (nee:ALBATROSS) was bought at the last minute for use as a deck barge and is reputedly on the Tennessee River. Not much solace, but at least part of their physical being remains on our waters... I remember the first time I was in Paducah on the DQ, I went over to the Walker landing barge and was asked what I wanted. I was just looking at the hull, decking and a few stanchions which were from the TOM GREENE. There are various examples of hulls living on either as barges or as foundations for new vessels and now we can add the MQ and ADMIRAL to that list. Hopefully someone will be passing by these hulls and send us some pictures... 10/27: see below, the ADMIRAL's hull is being scrapped...