The U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet command ship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), is outfitted with the latest command, control, and communications technology in order to effectively command naval units defending the national interests of the United States. The ship operates routinely in the Western Pacific and
Indian Ocean, and waters adjacent to areas involved in the War on Terrorism.
The ship visits many foreign ports, conducting military and diplomatic engagements with U.S. allies, in her normal international duties. With the potential threat to this valuable national asset, and the need for continuous review and practice of force protection, Blue Ridge's Commanding Officer, CAPT Andrew Sevald sent 10 of his officers to Naval Station San Diego, California recently to take advantage of the Marine Safety International (MSI) training facility. The simulator training available at MSI features ship handling, safe navigation and many other areas, including force protection.