USS Ranger Foundation

The Foundation gets questions all the time about when will Ranger arrive in Fairview and what is left to do? Ranger’s to do list is as long and varied as her many compartments. Since we are heading into February, it seemed like a good time to remind everyone of our target dates for the Ranger project. Of course, with a complicated project of this size, some future dates may change.

July 31, 2012 - Submission of Phase II application which meets the Navy’s minimum requirements for donation.

September 30, 2012 - Navy completes evaluation of the Phase II application and requests the Foundation to submit its Phase III application within six months.

March 31, 2013 - Foundation submits Phase III application which fully meets the Navy’s minimum requirements for donation.

April 30, 2013 - Navy completes evaluation of Phase III application and notifies the Foundation to proceed to negotiate with EPA Region 10 on a draft donee/EPA PCB compliance agreement.

July to September 2013 – Move preparation begins for Ranger to be moved to Swan Island, Oregon no later than Sept. 31, 2014.

April 30, 2014 - Completion of a signed donee/EPA PCB compliance agreement.

April 30 to June 30, 2014 -  60 day period for Navy to finalize an Environmental Assessment pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and obtain Secretary of the Navy concurrence for donation.

July 2014 – July 2015 -  Site construction for Ranger complex.

July 1 to 31, 2014 - 30-day Congressional notification period per 10 USC 7306 (any recess in excess of three days is not counted in the 30-day notification period)

July 31, 2014 - Execution of donation transfer contract and allowance of 60-days to remove ex-Ranger from INACTSHIPMAINTO Bremerton

September 2014 - Target date for removal of ex-Ranger from INACTSHIPMAINTO Bremerton

March 2015 to October 2015 – Program and vendor start up at Ranger complex.

June to September 2015 – Move preparation and Ranger moved to Fairview, Oregon site.

October 2015 - Ranger complex scheduled to open to the public.

When the Foundation looks ahead to complimentary businesses to support Ranger, naturally boats come to mind. One such fun new business for East County could be the duck boats from World War II. These land and sea craft are entertaining visitors across the United States with their fun tours of sights and attractions on both land and water. Businesses such as the duck boats would help build on Ranger’s tourism mission.

Imagine our very own fleet of duck boats to join Ranger’s carrier group. Take a look at what San Francicso offers its visitors. Seattle also have duck boat tours in place. We are sure East County can match those rides for fun and adventure. Especially since we are the home of the University of Oregon Ducks! Imagine being able to duck boat by Ranger at her mooring. Priceless!  

The opportunity to ride the only working former U.S. Navy PT Boat awaits one lucky raffle ticket winner. Granted special permission from the PT Boat 658 organization, this one time fundraiser for the USS Ranger Foundation gets the winner and one guest a ride very few have ever taken.

A raffle ticket could be the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for Ranger supporters (and anyone interested in historic ships). The USS Ranger Foundation’s raffle winner gets several exciting prizes. Here are the details:

A special once-in-a-lifetime experience for two aboard PT Boat 658 during Portland’s Rose Festival Fleet Week

Package includes:

• Ride for two aboard PT 658 on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers in the Portland Metro area. See the Fleet arrive, be a part of the amazing festivities during the June 2012 Rose Festival and get a waterside view of Ranger’s future home in Fairview, Oregon.

• Overnight lodging for two at a local Portland Metro area hotel.

• Dinner for 2 at a local restaurant.

• And More!

PT 658 is the only historically accurate operational PT boat left in the world. She was restored and is operated by a group of PT Veterans and volunteers over a 20 year period. PT 658 is stationed at the Swan Island Navy Base in Portland, Oregon. Escorting Navy ships from the United States and other countries to attend the Rose Festival Fleet Week is one of the major excursions the boat takes each year since 2004.

The Portland Rose Festival is in it’s 104th year and has been named “Portland’s Official Festival” and also received the honor of “Best Festival in the World” from the International Events and Festivals Association for 2011.

Raffle tickets will be mailed to buyers before the drawing date. The raffle drawing will be held March 4, 2012, at 6 p.m. Ticket holders need not be present to win.

Only 950 tickets are available at $10 each. They are going fast so make sure you get your chance to ride on PT Boat 658 today.