PHILADELPHIA, PA (AP).- A historic warship on the Philadelphia waterfront has gotten a little shoring up while it waits for a new owner. The USS Olympia is a one-of-a-kind steel cruiser from the Spanish-American War. The ship needs at least $10 million in repairs and the nonprofit Independence Seaport Museum can't afford it.

At low tide Tuesday, museum workers bolted a 16-foot long metal patch along the waterline where the ship's hull is badly deteriorated.

The work was done from floats in the water, as well as from a small motor boat. The patch should keep the hull stable until the Olympia can be taken to dry dock.

The museum is looking for a state, city or charitable organization that will assume ownership of the Olympia by the end of next year.


Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.