Jack Martin, the interim executive director of the USS Forrestal Sea, Air, Space Museum, said his group is willing to pay a fair rent but wants the early years of the lease to cost less, with the rent rising gradually. He offered $250,000 a year for five years.

The Port Authority wants $250,000 plus 25 cents for each person who visits the ship.

The group hopes to draw about 550,000 people to its floating museum. The Florida Aquarium, less than half a mile south of the proposed site, is approaching 600,000 in annual attendance.

The existing tenant, International Ship Repair, gives the authority $340,000 a year, Williamson wrote, and the port wants to keep ``shipyard activity'' in Tampa.

Martin responded that the port can break the Ship Repair lease with six months written notice.

``That obstacle, I think, we can overcome. International Ship Repair has known they're just keeping the seat warm down there.''

Towing the ship to Tampa, fixing the dock and turning the ship into a museum should cost about $12 million, Forrestal backers say. They plan to sell bonds and raise private donations. The group has about $170,000 in contributions.

``We're not going to ask for anything for free,'' Martin said.

Organizers are getting ready to ask the U.S. Navy to give them custody of the retired carrier. They plan to submit their application May 26. That will trigger a six-month window for any competing bids. After that, the Navy Secretary reviews the bids and recommends one to Congress, which must wait 60 days before voting.

Martin said the dock could be made usable within four months, not the 22 to 28 months the port expects to take for renovations. Remaining dock work could be done after the museum opens.

The Forrestal group will apply for environmental and building permits during this lag time to ensure it can start work once it wins custody, Martin said. He said if the ship does block the channel, the slip could be extended toward the street.

``It wouldn't be a major undertaking,'' Martin said.

Since the idea first was floated last summer, the effort has attracted a core of active volunteers. It also has been the subject of several columns by Tampa Tribune editorial page editor Edwin Roberts Jr., who serves on the Forrestal's advisory board. Tampa Mayor Dick Greco has endorsed it.

While the port authority wants to be ``a partner in your success,'' Williamson also asked for an escrow account or Navy commitment to tow the Forrestal out should the museum venture fail.

``I ask the port authority not to hold us to a higher standard than any other city in America,'' Martin said. ``Nobody has ever asked for a fund set aside to haul the ship out of there.''

Should the project fail, he said, Navy officials said they would work with the Tampa group to find another city interested in the Forrestal.

Michael Fechter can be reached at (813) 259-7621 or at mfechter@tampatrib.com