USS Constellation Undergoing Facelift, Ex-Offenders Help To Keep Costs Down

BALTIMORE, Md. (WJZ)--The USS Constellation is undergoing a $2 million facelift with a creative way to keep costs down.

Marcus Washington explains the creative double benefit of repairing the USS Constellation.

The project to repair the 160-year-old ship costs more than 2-million dollars, but using ex-offenders not only saves money, but reintroduces them to the workforce.

The USS Constellation took a turn for the worse when parts of the ship repaired in the 90's started to rot. In mid-October the restoration begins here with the ship being loaded into this dry dock.

"They have to have her land just right, right in the absolute favorite position."

Nearly 4 months into the project, WJZ is invited inside, but safety first with required glasses and a hard had.

With Chris Rowson, Executive Director of Historic Ships in Baltimore, WJZ travels up more than 50 feet up onto a 400 foot long ship--holding the USS Constellation inside.

Marcus: "There is a lot of history with this ship particularly with the slave trade."

Chris: "Yes, with the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, the Triangle Trade across the Atlantic."

"Constellation captured three slave ships, two of which were empty, one had human cargo of just over 700 men, women and children on board," said Chris Rowson.

With more stairs to travel we make it inside where more than 40 workers are sanding and nailing.

Once you get inside you truly understand why it's so important to wear a hard hat and glasses. We are inside a ship as they work on a ship. These planks we stand on are some 25 feet off of solid ground.

"Words can't describe how I feel right now," said Melvin Moses.

Melvin Moses is part of project serve, allowing ex-offenders to re-enter the work force and help save money on the $2-million project. Melvin says he's getting much more than a job opportunity.

"Tell friends and family and my kids that I help restore this ship, this piece of history. So, it can continue to help education individuals who come visit the ship," Moses said.

Now Melvin and many others say that they actually learned about the USS Constellation in school so it really was a true honor to work on the ship.

The work should be finished by the end of February.