Downtown Jacksonville witnessed a historic maritime arrival on Wednesday morning as major structural sections of the decommissioned submarine USS Jacksonville were delivered to the city for which the vessel was named. The delivery marked a key milestone in a long-standing initiative aimed at preserving tangible artifacts from the nuclear-powered submarine and establishing a dedicated memorial exhibit in the heart of downtown.
The arrival marked the end of an extensive logistics journey that traversed the breadth of the continental United States. Transported by a specialized convoy of four semi-truck trailers, the submarine components traveled cross-country from the naval repair facilities in Bremerton, Washington, across thousands of miles of highway before finally pulling into downtown Jacksonville on Wednesday morning.
The shipment comprised primary structural elements from the submarine, notably its massive sail structure, including the upper sail assembly, and its substantial upper rudder. These specific pieces represent prominent components of the USS Jacksonville (SSN 699), a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine built for critical defense missions beneath the sea.
Powered by nuclear energy, the USS Jacksonville spent four decades in active service as an operational component of the United States Navy's submarine fleet. First entering naval service in 1981, the attack submarine carried out operations across four continuous decades before reaching the conclusion of its naval career and retiring in 2021.
The sail structure and the upper rudder hold particular significance for submarine crews and naval enthusiasts due to their prominent physical profile. As the highest points on the submarine's exterior hull, the sail and the top edge of the rudder are the very first structures that pierce the surface whenever the vessel rises above the waterline.
The long journey to bring the vessel's components to Florida was spearheaded by Stephen Jorgensen, a military veteran who previously served as a crew member aboard the USS Jacksonville. As president of the organization Bring The Sail 2 Jax, Jorgensen led the grassroots campaign to secure the physical artifacts and bring them to the vessel's namesake city.
Securing the historical hardware was the direct result of extensive collaboration and coordination. Jorgensen worked closely with the U.S. Navy over a span of several years, dedicating continuous effort and personal time to ensure that the submarine's pieces were preserved, approved for release, safely prepared for long-haul highway transportation, and transferred directly to Florida.
The four flatbed semi-truck trailers officially reached their unloading site at Fincantieri Marine Repair in downtown Jacksonville on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Jorgensen was present on site to celebrate the milestone, showing his appreciation by clapping as rigging crews began the delicate process of hoisting the heavy rudder from its transport trailer.
The intricate offloading operation at the yard required technical precision and close teamwork among industrial personnel. Key figures coordinating the maneuver included crane rigging manager Ryan Schmitz and crane rigging supervisor Darryl Moore from Fincantieri Marine Repair, who worked on the ground alongside commercial transport truck driver Andrew Smolynets to oversee the initial staging.
Working together at the marine facility, Schmitz, Moore, and Smolynets evaluated the dimensions of the hardware to identify the exact lift points on the upper sail structure. Industrial workers from Fincantieri Marine Repair then rigged specialized equipment to lift the rudder and sail assemblies off the trailers, utilizing heavy cranes to complete the transfer safely.
With the multi-ton naval components now safely on the ground in Jacksonville, the project moves into its next operational phase. Plans call for technical teams to refurbish the metal structures, reassemble the sail and rudder sections, and restore the artifacts so they are fully prepared for long-term public viewing.
Organizers estimate that the entire reassembly and refurbishment timeline will span approximately one year from the date of arrival. Once the industrial restoration is finished, the completed display will be permanently positioned in the downtown waterfront area, offering local residents and visitors an up-close perspective on the attack submarine's distinct upper architecture.
The finalized exhibition will be positioned directly along the St. Johns River in the vicinity of the USS Orleck. The Orleck, a retired warship that serves as a floating museum, is stationed at the historic shipyard Pier 1 in downtown Jacksonville, providing an established maritime setting for the incoming submarine exhibit.
By anchoring the sail structure and rudder near the USS Orleck at Pier 1, the new installation will create a unified downtown destination for naval history. The completed project will ensure that the distinguished 1981–2021 service record of the USS Jacksonville remains permanently commemorated within the Florida community that gave the vessel its name.
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