Embarcadero Pier Project Under Way

Construction is under way at San Diego’s Embarcadero on a 255-foot pier for the Berkeley and the Medea, two vessels belonging to the Maritime Museum. Construction crews this week set up a 100-foot crane and started driving in the steel pipes that will support the pier.

Once the project is finished in mid-August, all three ships that constitute the museum, including the Star of India, will be together for the first time.

The Berkeley, a wooden ferry, and the surrounding Embarcadero were heavily damaged in January when a storm pummeled the city’s coast. The exterior of the ferry incurred major damage, but the interior remained intact.

“We were very surprised that nothing happened to the inside of the Berkeley,” said Carolyn Elliott, director of development for the Maritime Museum. “There are so many fragile artifacts that she houses, it was a miracle that more damage wasn’t done.”

The Star of India, the oldest iron-hulled sailing ship in the world still afloat and sailing, sustained little damage in the winter storm.

“Because the Star is made of iron, she held up against the storm better than the Berkeley, which is constructed of wood,” Elliott said. “Both of the ships are open to the public, but museum crews are still fine-tuning the Berkeley.”

Both the Berkeley and the Star of India were moved from their berths after the storm. The Berkeley was taken to Campbell Shipyard in San Diego, where major repairs were done. Six weeks later, the ferry was docked at the south side of the Broadway Pier. The Star of India was moved just north of Anthony’s Fish Grotto on North Harbor View Drive.

The Medea, an antique stern yacht that was docked at Shelter Island during the storm, escaped any damage and is now berthed alongside the Berkeley.

The three ships will stay at their current berths until the new pier is completed. The $733,000 pier will have a floating dock, gangway or ramp to the ships and moorings.

The project was proposed more than two years ago by the Port of San Diego and the Maritime Museum in an effort to put all three vessels into one area, said Dan Wilkins, the port’s information officer.

Although the Embarcadero was battered by the Berkeley and Star of India during the storm, repair of the waterfront is still in the works.

“Right now we are working on the mooring facility for the Maritime Museum,” said Antero Pe, project engineer for the Port of San Diego. “The Embarcadero project is still under design, and we don’t know how much it will cost and when we will start working on it.”

Once pier construction is completed, the Maritime Museum will have a grand opening to celebrate the union of the vessels.

“Shortly after the project is finished, it will be time to celebrate the Star of India’s 125th birthday,” Elliott said. The anniversary is Nov. 14.