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Florida Senate wants schooner as official state ship
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Published: February 8, 2012
Updated: 02/08/2012 10:41 am
TALLAHASSEE — The schooner Western Union is sailing toward being name Florida's official state flagship.
The Florida Senate unanimously passed a bill (SB 326) on Wednesday that would give that designation to the 130-foot long tall ship.
The Western Union is based in Key West where it's being turned into a floating museum.
Construction of the yellow pine and mahogany ship began in Grand Cayman, but it was completed in Key West in 1939. It served as a cable vessel for the Western Union Telegraph Co. for 34 years.
The ship later was put to work as a charter boat.
The bill next goes to the House, where similar legislation is pending.
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