United States Frigate Constellation: Monitoring of Water at Constellation Pier, Baltimore Harbor, for the Presence of Marine Wood-Destroyers--First Year of Observations, from April 1978 to May 1979.
Abstract
The United States Frigate Constellation is permanently berthed at Constellation Pier in Baltimore Harbor. Recently, an extensive program of repair and restoration was begun and a schedule of preventive maintenance established. Because the hull and other wooden structures of Constellation are susceptible to degradation by wood-destroying organisms, the preventive maintenance program includes the monitoring of the water adjacent to the hull of the presence of marine wood-destroyers and inspection of internal wooden structures for fungal degradation. Environmental and biological data were obtained from three field inspections performed since the monitoring program began. The biological data show that there is no marine-borer (Bankia gouldi) activity in the water at Constellation Pier, and unless there occurs an unusual and prolonged change in climatic conditions which would increase the salinity of the water, a future infestation of B. gouldi is not likely. Consequently, there is no current threat to the hull of Constellation by this borer, and no action is now required to protect the hull of Constellation from borer attack. Currently, the most serious threat to the hull is the presence of lignicolous fungi on the wood at and below the waterline. Fungal damage, if any, can be determined when Constellation is moved into drydock for hull inspection and maintenance. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA090944
Entities
People
- Carmela A. Bailey
- John D. Bultman
- Kathleen K. Parrish
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory