Dewey News

The Chinese military on Sunday condemned the United States and Canada for each sending a warship through the Taiwan Strait last week, saying they were threatening peace and stability in the region.China claims democratically-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, and has mounted repeated air force missions into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over the past year, provoking anger in Taipei.China sent around 150 aircraft into the zone over a four-day period beginning on Oct.

An interview with Rear Admiral Ronald A. Boxall, Director, Surface Warfare (N96), conducted by Capt. Edward Lundquist, U. S. Navy (Ret.)The theme of the recent SNA West Coast Symposium was “Take a Running Fix.” So what’s your “fix” right now about where we are regarding surface warfare?The SWO Boss is thinking about that from a man/train/equip standpoint, and being able to ensure that we’re trained to the best we can, that we’re manned properly, and have the equipment we need.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) arrived in Hong Kong for a port visit March 27 after a stretch of operations as part of a deployment in the Indo-Pacific. The visit is meant to allow the crew to experience the culture of Hong Kong, engage with the local community, and continue to build a strong relationship with the counterparts in Hong Kong's disciplined services. "We are thankful for the opportunity to visit Hong Kong. The crew is excited to learn about its history and experience the energy of this great city." Said Cmdr. Claudine Caluori, Sterett's commanding officer. Of the range of activities planned, Sterett will visit a nursery school and a secondary school, participating in cultural activities and sports games with students.

The U.S. Navy will commission its newest fast attack submarine, the future USS Colorado (SSN 788), during a ceremony Saturday, March 17, at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn. The principal speaker will be U.S. Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado. Annie Mabus, daughter of 75th Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, will serve as the ship’s sponsor. “USS Colorado is a true marvel of technology and innovation, and it shows the capability that our industrial partners bring to the fight,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. The future Colorado, which began construction in 2012, is the 15th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the fifth Virginia-class Block III submarine. Colorado will be the fourth U.S. Navy ship to be commissioned with a name honoring the state of Colorado.

A detachment of F-35B Lightning II's with Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) arrived aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) March 5, marking the first time the aircraft has deployed aboard a U.S. Navy ship and with a Marine Expeditionary Unit in the Indo-Pacific. The F-35B, assigned under the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, will provide a robust set of sea-based capabilities that will enhance Navy-Marine Corps expeditionary operations. The aircraft is equally capable of conducting precision strikes inland, supporting Marines inserted ashore or providing air defense for the Expeditionary Strike Group. "Pairing…

In the waning days of 2016, the outlook brightened dramatically for the big U.S. dredging contractors. Just before Congress dispersed for the Holidays, then-President Obama signed a pivotal piece of legislation – the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, S612. Authorized needed investment in America’s ports, channels, locks, dams, and other infrastructure that supports the maritime and waterways transportation system and provides flood protection. Authorized U.S.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) arrived in Zhanjiang, China, June 12, 2017, for a scheduled port visit. Sterett's visit is the first U.S. Navy visit to Zhanjiang since 2015 and the first U.S. Navy visit to mainland China in 2017. "This visit is an exciting opportunity to promote maritime cooperation and reinforce a navy-to-navy relationship with our People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA(N) counterparts," said Cmdr. Claudine Caluori, Sterett's commanding officer. During the course of the port visit, Sailors will conduct sporting events, ship tours, and a community relations event, along with leadership office calls and receptions with the PLA(N).

The shipwreck remains of a historic U.S. Coast Guard cutter have been discovered off of Southern California 100 years after the vessel was lost at sea. In its heyday, the Coast Guard Cutter McCulloch – commissioned in 1897 as a cruising cutter for the U.S. Treasury’s Revenue Cutter Service, a predecessor of the Coast Guard – saw its share of action, having served with Commodore George Dewey in the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898 as part of the U.S. Asiatic Squadron that destroyed the Spanish Pacific fleet in the first major battle of the Spanish-American War.

The U.S. Navy has a balanced fleet, but it wants to grow bigger and better. Will the budget allow both? Maritime Reporter's March 2017 cover story on the U.S. Navy was all about the numbers. There exists several plans to grow the fleet beyond the current number of 308 ships, the Mitre recommendation of 414 ships, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment 340-ship proposal, and the Navy’s decision to grow the fleet to 355 ships, and the Trump administration’s 350. With so many numbers being bandied about, there are even more suggestions on how to get there.

A U.S. Navy warship sailed within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, U.S. officials said on Wednesday, the first such challenge to Beijing in the strategic waterway since U.S. President Donald Trump took office. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the USS Dewey traveled close to the Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, among a string of islets, reefs and shoals over which China has territorial disputes with its neighbors. China said its warships had warned the U.S. ship and it lodged "stern representations" with the United States. China said it remained resolutely opposed to so-called freedom of navigation operations. The U.S.

A new Jones Act trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) Magdalen, recently launched at Eastern Shipbuilding Group’s (ESG) Allanton facility in Panama City, Fla., is expected to be handed over to its owner, U.S. dredging contractor Weeks Marine, before the end of 2017. This modern TSHD has a length of 108.5 meters, breadth of 24.24 meters and a molded depth of 8.31 meters. The state-of-the-art 356’ twin screw dredger is outfitted with BARKE high-lift flap rudders by Van der Velden Marine Systems (VDVMS) in conjunction with Ships Machinery International, Inc. (SMI).

Ships and units from the Sterett-Dewey Surface Action Group (Sterett-Dewey SAG) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, April 11, the first stop of the group's Western Pacific deployment. The command staff of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 31 and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Dewey (DDG 105), along with embarked helicopter detachments from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 49 and HSM 78, deployed from Naval Base San Diego March 31. During the transit to Hawaii, the Sterett-Dewey SAG completed a series of training and certification exercises tailored to meet projected expectations of Western Pacific operations. The group additionally worked with Carrier Strike Group 11 in a series of communications exercises.

The privately owned U.S.-flag foreign trading fleet, which is an essential component of U.S. sealift capability, stands on the edge of a precipice. The fleet – roughly stable in terms of cargo carrying capacity from 2000 to 2012 – has declined from 106 vessels in 2012 to 78 vessels at October 30, 2016 primarily because of a substantial decline in available U.S. Government-reserved cargo. The size of the fleet has reached a point where the viability of the U.S.-flag industry involved in foreign trade – including its trained mariners…

The Navy will christen its newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine, the future USS Colorado (SSN 788), during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, Dec. 3 at General Dynamics Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Connecticut. The Honorable Ray Mabus, secretary of the Navy, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. His daughter, Anne Mabus, is serving as the ship's sponsor. "The christening of the future USS Colorado is an example of our enduring partnership with our nation's shipbuilders, and this ceremony marks a milestone along the journey to add another submarine to our Navy fleet-a fleet that will reach more than 300 ships by 2019," Mabus said. Colorado (SSN 788) is the 15th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the fifth Virginia-class Block III submarine.

For 16 years, the National Quality Steering Committee has used three measures to track overall trends in safety and environmental protection. While not all-encompassing, the measures are considered to be useful indicators of towing industry trends. Crew fatalities per 100,000 towing industry workers. Gallons of oil spilled from tank barges per million gallons transported. The number of vessel casualties (overall or by incident severity). This report contains towing industry data and measures for calendar years 1994 to 2015.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation announced that it was recently awarded four contracts with an approximate value of $93 million. Great Lakes received two awards for coastal protection work required along the East Coast as a result of the extensive damage caused by Super Storm Sandy in 2012 and other more recent storms. The first award is a $30 million contract that involves sand replenishment and dune building from Kismet to Seaview on Fire Island, New York. Approximately 1.3 million cubic yards of sand will be dredged and pumped onto the beach. This barrier island helps protect back-bay communities along Great South Bay and Moriches Bay. Work is expected to be complete by December 2016.

The Dutch company Van der Velden Marine Systems (VDVMS) in conjunction with the U.S. representative Ships Machinery International, Inc. (SMI) has announced the launching of a new Jones Act Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) with BARKE high-lift flap rudders for coastwise service in the U.S. This new design vessel brings increased maneuvering to the fleet of ATB vessels plying U.S. coastal waters. Tank tests prove that for this type of vessel this is the most effective rudder design. This ATB will have enhanced maneuverability and excellent course keeping stability.

1898 - The battleship USS Kentucky (BB 6) is launched in Newport News, Va. 1903 - Adm. George Dewey is commissioned Admiral of the Navy, the only person to hold this rank. Upon his death Jan. 16, 1917, Congress deactivates the rank. 1919 - The battleship USS Idaho (BB 42) is commissioned. Idaho serves with the Pacific fleet, participating in gunfire support of the Aleutian, Marianas, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa Campaigns, and is in Tokyo Bay Sept. 2, 1945 when Japan formally surrenders. 1936 - USS Balch (DD 363), named after Rear Adm. George B. Balch, is launched.

Today in U.S. 1934 - Lt. Akers demonstrates blind landing system at College Park, Md. 1945 - V.Adm. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

The pilot of one of two F/A-18 Hornets that crashed Sept. 12 while operating from USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) is in fair condition and receiving medical treatment aboard the ship. Search efforts continue for the missing pilot. At the time of the incident, USS Carl Vinson was operating in the Western Pacific Ocean approximately 250 nautical miles west of Wake Island. The cause of the crash is under investigation. The ships of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, USS Carl Vinson, USS Bunker Hill…

The Navy kicked off a new program Oct. 5, designed to give high performing officers and Sailors experience at large corporations for approximately one year. Three participants began work today with Amazon in Seattle, Washington, and two with FedEx, in Memphis, Tennessee, as part of program's first cohort. As Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus first announced in his May 2015 speech at the Naval Academy, this program is designed give our Sailors exposure to leading-edge business practices, techniques, and technologies with the competitiveness of the corporate business cycle. "This program is a win-win for both the Navy and corporate America," said Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Adm. Bill Moran. "We need Sailors in our Navy who think differently and aren't afraid to challenge the status quo.

Today in U.S. Naval History - March 24 1903 - George Dewey commissioned Admiral of the Navy with the date of rank, March 2, 1899. He was the only person to hold this rank. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

Continental Maritime of San Diego (CMSD), a ship repair subsidiary of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), has been awarded the Blue Sky Award by San Diego County’s Air Pollution Control District APCD for its initiatives targeting reduced air pollution. The APCD annually recognizes one small, one medium and one large business or organization for efforts toward improving air quality. CMSD was nominated by the Industrial Environmental Association in the medium-sized business category.