SSV Oliver Hazard Perry: Rhode Island’s Education at Sea Tall Ship When completed, this school ship will:
• Be the most innovative and entrepreneurial ocean-going classroom in the United States.
• Partner with educational institutions to deliver programs that improve academic proficiency among students.
• Showcase Rhode Island’s marine industry and provide marine trade career training opportunities.
• Represent Rhode Island’s maritime and naval history and serve as a new Ocean State symbol.
• Be built upon a solid business plan for sustainable operations.

This school ship has already raised $4 million in charitable support!

We seek your support as a Shipbuilding Syndicate member or Plank Owner to construct the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry and develop its experiential education programs.

SHIPBUILDING SYNDICATE LEVELS:
$500,000 - 2 donors
(2 remaining)

$250,000 - 4 Donors
(1 remaining)

$100,000 - 11 Donors
(4 remaining)

$50,000 - 13 Donors
(7 remaining)

$25,000 - 16 Donors
(10 remaining)

PLANK OWNER LEVELS
$10,000 - 28 Donors
(14 remaining)

$5,000 - 28 Donors
(16 remaining)

$2,500 - 26 Donors
(9 remaining)

$1,000 - 236 Donors
(111 remaining)

Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island is dedicated to commissioning SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, the largest active education at sea tall ship in the U.S. operated by a nonprofit organization. To accomplish this goal, we must raise a total of $6.6 million in philanthropic funds.

Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island (OHPRI) is a deliberate and strategic transformation of Tall Ships Rhode Island, formerly chaired by Vice Admiral Thomas R. Weschler, USN, (Ret.). This highly regarded nonprofit effectively managed three world-class Tall Ships Festivals in Rhode Island within the last twenty years.

OHPRI is redirecting its collective experience in sail training programs, financial management, marketing and organization building, in order to become the most innovative and effective experiential education organization in Rhode Island. This objective is meant to increase the academic character and career enrichment opportunities for Rhode Island’s youth, as well as their families, educators and mentors.

OHPRI’s specifically-designed school ship, SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, and the carefully developed educational programs that will be administered from this ocean-going classroom, are now being built upon successful models proven to be financially sustainable and educationally successful.

This $6.6 million project has already attracted $4 million in charitable contributions. As a result of this early funding, OHPRI acquired the seaworthy hull of the former HMS Detroit for $325,000, which had over $1.5 million invested into its design and construction prior to its purchase.

The total $4.9 million in charitable contributions, combined with a pending $1.7 million Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation guaranteed BankNewport loan, will enable OHPRI to continue construction in 2011 with a commissioning in 2013.

OHPRI objectives for the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry include:

• Offering a broad understanding of the world’s oceans through interdisciplinary curricula.
• Demanding academics on shore followed by an experiential application at sea.
• The ability of educators and students to collect and use ocean, coastal, weather and climate data in inquiry and evidence-based activities from a technologically-driven environmentally-clean sailing vessel.
• Academic credit to colleges and universities.
• The ability to work one-on-one with educators in an informal setting.
• The ability to develop self-esteem, confidence and teamwork skills.
• The opportunity to plan and conduct research projects utilizing new technologies with visual and measurement equipment and devises, computer and web applications, and remotely operated vehicles.
• Provide preprofessional training for individuals wishing to make a career at sea or in the marine trades.
• Represent Rhode Island’s marine trades and the State of Rhode Island in American and foreign ports.
• Promote Rhode Island’s naval heritage as a cultural symbol.
OHPRI has carefully developed a revenue-generating business plan based upon successful models. Upon commissioning in 2013, OHPRI will begin to fulfill an approximate $1.4 million annual operating budget which will employ as many as 17 people in shore side operations and as professional crew of the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry. The ship will carry a certificate of inspection for up to 49 persons for overnight accommodation and approximately 100 for day sails. SSV Oliver Hazard Perry will be able to enroll approximately 2,000 students annually, and thousands will be able to tour the ship while in Newport and other ports.

When not performing its education at sea objectives offshore (approximately 40 weeks per year), SSV Oliver Hazard Perry will be prominently displayed and available to the public in Newport, RI. SSV Oliver Hazard Perry will strengthen our tourism industry and add value to the visitor experience in Newport.

This project is incredibly important to Rhode Island’s marine trades industry. Thus, as well as becoming an educational and OHPRI has entered into a favorable lease with the Newport Restoration Foundation and now occupies the historic c. 1750 Buloid-Perry House on Washington Square. Sponsored by two generous individual donors for two years, this new office also enables OHPRI to establish a visible public presence in the heart of a revitalized historic and cultural area of Newport.

SSV Oliver Hazard Perry will be fully operational and nationally prominent by the War of 1812 bicentennial activities of 2012-2014. As a result, Rhode Island will be well positioned to benefit from international publicity regarding Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s accomplishments during the War of 1812.

From engineering systems, to navigation, to ship handling, SSV Oliver Hazard Perry will also serve as an invaluable training and skill-building platform for anyone interested in careers in our marine and boating industries. OHPRI will have the opportunity to collaborate with career training institutions throughout Rhode Island.

Collaborating with public and private schools, colleges and universities, and educational and cultural organizations, SSV Oliver Hazard Perry will be a flexible ocean school ship. Scientific equipment, such as a lab van and remotely operated vehicles that help increase student proficiency in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields of study can be outfitted on the ship to accommodate each educational mission.

Shipbuilding, Organization & Education Program Development Budget
A total of $6.6 million is needed to accomplish OHPRI’s shipbuilding, organization and education program development plans. Warren naval architect David Bonney has been engaged to develop the shipbuilding plans. Bonney recently designed the full-rigged ship Friendship of Salem for the National Park Service, and designed the Alletta Morris for Save the Bay. First phase shipbuilding has been completed. Second phase will be accomplished by Promet Marine Services which employs qualified pipe fitters and trade craftsmen certified to standards required by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and the American Bureau of Shipping.

Upon completion of the major steel and mechanical systems installation at Promet Marine Services, resulting in 75% completion of the shipbuilding project, SSV Oliver Hazard Perry will be moved to State Pier Nine at Long Wharf in Newport for Phase III. SSV Oliver Hazard Perry will be viewable as an educational public exhibit, while this phase is accomplished, to help build publicity and interest in the education programs to commence upon commissioning in 2013.

SOURCES OF EXPENSES:

Click HERE for a pdf of the Case for support.

OHPRI Fact Sheet