Stena Line Considering Doubling Ireland-France Freight Services
Ferry firm Stena Line has brought forward a planned doubling of its direct Ireland to France freight service in response to “huge demand” from Irish hauliers hit by the closure of the French border to arrivals from Britain.While freight services were exempt from Ireland’s ban on Sunday on travel to Britain over fears of a new coronavirus strain, around 3,000 lorries take the shorter route to mainland Europe via the so-called British “land-bridge” each week.Stena had planned to add a second ship to its service from Ireland’s Rosslare harbor to the French port of Cherbourg from Jan.
USS Ohio Departs for Maiden Deployment
USS Ohio (SSGN 726) departed from Naval Base (NB) Kitsap, Bremerton delta pier for her maiden deployment as a guided-missile submarine, Oct. 14. Ohio was recently converted from a ballistic missile submarine to a guided-missile submarine and was the first of four in its class to undergo the conversion. "Today is a very special day for the Sailors on board the USS Ohio and this marks a major installment for the nation," said Rear Adm. Frank M. Drennan, commander Submarine Group TRIDENT. In December, Ohio completed its conversion to a guided-missile submarine and is now capable of hauling more than 150 Tomahawk cruise missiles and more than 60 special operations force members for extended periods of time.
Ceremony Set for Joint Harbor Operations Center
Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner Jayson Ahern, U.S. Navy Commander Submarine Group Trident, Rear Admiral Frank Drennan, and other dignitaries will be in attendance Wednesday at 10 a.m. for the Coast Guard Joint Harbor Operation Center (JHOC) ribbon cutting ceremony at Pier 36 here. The ceremony recognizes officially the operation of the JHOC. The JHOC is the home for Sector Seattle's Command Center, Communications Center and Vessel Traffic Center. The JHOC will be the premiere state-of-the-art maritime Command Center for the Pacific Northwest partnering Coast Guard with Navy…
NB Kitsap Submariners Celebrate 107 Years of History
More than 1,100 submariners and their guests attended the 107th Enlisted Submariner's Birthday Ball at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel Grand Ballroom on April 28. Twenty submariner commands from the Naval Base (NB) Kitsap region attended the event, which included special guests: Rear Adm. Frank M. Drennan, the commander of Submarine Group 9; Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (SW/FMF) Joe Campa Jr.; Pacific Fleet Command Master Chief (SS/SW) Rick West; U.S. 3rd Fleet Command Master Chief (SS/SW) Mark Rudes; Submarine Force Pacific Command Master Chief (SS) Mo Pollard. Campa addressed and thanked the crews for what they do for the country and thanked the family members for their support of our submariners.
USS Jimmy Carter Arrives at New Home
The last of the Seawolf-class submarines, USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), arrived at its new home of Naval Base Kitsap Nov. 9 from Groton, Conn., to the delight of more than 300 family members and Navy personnel waiting pierside. Carter replaced USS Parche (SSN 683), which was decommissioned in October 2004. “They’re finally here,” said the wife of Capt. Robert Kelso, commanding officer. “We’ve been waiting for four months, so this is pretty exciting. Not only were families and fellow Sailors on hand, but a band from the Bear Creek School played Navy songs as the crowd eagerly awaited the boat’s arrival, and members of the Lake Washington Navy League were there to welcome the crew home. Clowns were there as well to entertain the children inside the newly renovated building on the pier.
