PHILADELPHIA, July 26, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- MEDIA ADVISORY --
WHEN: ARRIVES: Sunday, July 28 at 6 a.m. WHERE: PIER 40 Columbus Blvd. at Christian St. Philadelphia, Pa. WHAT: Traveling all the way from Washington state, a portion of Delaware Avenue will be closed as the tree is transferred onto the pier. As part of the renovations of the tall ship, the Gazela, the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild contacted several companies about replacing the deteriorated mast. Due to the generosity of several companies, both the cost of the tree and its transportation were donated. -- Weyerhaeuser Forest Products donated the tree valued at more than $7,000. -- CSX TRANSFLO Logistics Services arranged free transportation by railroad car for the 80-foot pole in return for limited use of the Gazela image in future advertising. -- CMC Equipment Rental has also donated their time to assist in transferring the tree onto the pier.
BACKGROUND: The mizzen mast of the Gazela was removed in December 2000, at the start of the ongoing deck-replacement project being completed by the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild. In the summer 2001, the crew noticed the wood had deteriorated, rendering it unsafe for sailing. Crew members donated over $6,000 towards the replacement, and that money will now be used to pay a professional shipwright to shape the tree into the finished mast.