USS Iowa to depart to Southern California Saturday RICHMOND (AP) — With sea conditions improving along the California coast, the USS Iowa is now scheduled to begin its final voyage on Saturday. The historic battleship was due to be towed out of Richmond on its way to what will be its new home in Southern California last Sunday, but forecasts of high seas and strong winds held up its departure. Now with better weather predicted, officials with Pacific Battleship Center, the nonprofit organization group that has been restoring the ship, say the Iowa's departure is now set for Saturday morning.