Oliver Hazard Perry will be Rhode Island's own Tall Ship, providing our state with a 207-foot long, three-masted sailing vessel to join the select fleet of Class-A size Tall Ships hosted by the nations of the world. With this extraordinary ship we can provide education at sea programs to youth of all ages while proudly advancing the Ocean State's rich maritime heritage.

The hull for this new ship was initially begun in Canada. It can now be seen on the waterfront in Newport, Rhode Island. Much of the first phase construction has been completed. The steel hull has been built; fuel and water tanks are installed, as well as shafts and propellers for its twin-engine propulsion system. Steel platforms await her twin generators. Initial work on a bow thruster has begun, as has a mechanically sophisticated rudder system. She will have a training participant capacity up to 100 for day sails and 49 overnight.

After a short Rhode Island shipyard construction period at Promet Marine Services in Providence,   Rhode Island, the final fitting out will take place on the Newport waterfront at a location accessible for public viewing. This will encourage and foster an interest in the ship as well as showcasing opportunities for sailing aboard her.

The ship is named for Newport's War of 1812 naval hero Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. Completion is planned for 2011, in time for her to participate in the War of 1812 Bicentennial Celebration. Once completed, Oliver Hazard Perry will be owned and operated in trust for the people of Rhode Island by Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island (OHPRI). She will be based in Newport, serve America and sail the world as an ambassador of our proud state.

The success of the Tall Ship Oliver Hazard Perry relies on the generosity of donors and supporters, both large and small, from individuals and businesses to students and corporations, so please consider making a generous gift or donation today.

Cheers to Ken Glidden of Roslindale, MA.

He is the lucky raffle ticket winner of a spot on board Rhode Island's Education at Sea Tall Ship Oliver Hazard Perry when she departs on her day sail maiden voyage. It's a once in a lifetime experience. Congratulations Ken.

If you didn't win the raffle and would like to purchase a day sail maiden voyage space, email info@OHPRI.org, call the OHPRI office at 401.841.0080, or mail in your request with a check for $1,500 to OHPRI, PO Box 115, Newport, RI 02840 and we'll save you a space as there will be only 100 people on board when she sails into Narragansett Bay in 2012.