USNS Washington Chambers to be Christened on 9-11

The U.S. Navy’s newest resupply ship, USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11), will be christened and launched into San Diego Bay. The chrestening ceremony will take place on Saturday, September 11, 2010, beginning at 10 a.m. and is free and open to the public. The main gate (28th Street and East Harbor Drive) to the shipyard will open at 9 a.m. 

Rear Admiral Richard J .O'Hanlon, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, is the ceremony’s principal speaker.  Loretta A. Penn, senior vice president of Spherion Corporation and president of its Staffing Services division and the ship’s sponsor,  will ceremonially name the ship by breaking the traditional bottle of champagne against its hull.  Also speaking will be Rear Admiral David H. Lewis, PEO Ships; Rear Admiral Robert O. Wray, Deputy Commander, Military Sealift Command; and Fred Harris, president of General Dynamics NASSCO.  Speakers will be available for interviews after the launch.
 
The General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard is located at 2798 East Harbor Drive in San Diego.

Named in honor of the U.S. Navy officer who played a major role in the development of naval aviation, USNS Washington Chambers is the 11th ship of the T-AKE class of dry cargo-ammunition ships that NASSCO is building for the Navy.  When the Washington Chambers joins the fleet in 2011, its primary mission will be to deliver more than 10,000 tons of food, ammunition, fuel and other provisions to combat ships on the move at sea.