By Paul Kurtz

CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) — Supporters of the Battleship New Jersey museum held a rally today in support of keeping the vessel on the Delaware riverfront in Camden, NJ.

The crew gave a demonstration of the old battleship’s awesome firepower, but you could also interpret it as a shot across the bow for those who want to move the New Jersey north to a new home in Liberty State Park, in northern New Jersey.

“The Battleship New Jersey belongs in the City of Camden and South Jersey,” Camden mayor Dana Redd told the cheering crowd.  “Will you join us in this fight?”

(A trumpeter plays the National Anthem in front of the 12" guns of the Battleship New Jersey. Credit: Paul Kurtz)

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Phil Rowan, president of the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial, says a North Jersey group has engaged in a letter-writing and publicity campaign, claiming the museum is in violation of its Navy contract.

“They think that because of some of the financial issues we’ve gone through and some of the attendance issues, they think it’s ripe for them  to try to pull the ship up there now,” he told KYW Newsradio, “but that’s not going to happen.”

Rowan says they’ve come up with a new plan for fundraising and marketing the ship, and are looking forward to a successful summer tourist season.