Weather Change Delays Departure Of USS Iowa

The USS Iowa sits docked in Richmond, Calif. while workers both volunteer and paid work to restore the battleship. It was saved from the scrap yard when the Navy gave it to the Pacific Battleship Center last year. It will be towed to Los Angeles on May 20th and is scheduled to be dedicated on July 4th of this year.(Mark Benischek/The Gazette-KCRG)

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By Jaime Sharer

Story Created: May 20, 2012 at 3:44 PM CDT

Story Updated: May 20, 2012 at 3:44 PM CDT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A change in the weather is delaying what will probably be the final voyage of the U.S.S. Iowa.

The historic battleship was expected to be towed through San Francisco Bay Sunday on its way to what will be its new home in Southern California.

But officials with the Pacific Battleship Center, the nonprofit organization that has been restoring the ship, say the Iowa's departure has been postponed because of a storm system approaching the West Coast.

Spokeswoman Lisa Lacher says high waves and strong winds expected with the approaching system would make it difficult to tow the 887-foot long, 58,000-ton battlewagon in the open ocean.

Lacher says officials will be evaluating the weather conditions on a day-to-day basis.

When the Iowa does make it to its final destination at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro it will be transformed into an interactive naval museum.

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