Uss Oriskany News

1814 - A squadron from the schooner USS Carolina attacks and raids the base of the pirate Jean Lafitte, at Barataria, La., capturing six schooners and other small craft while the pirates flee the attack. 1823 - Samuel Southard becomes the seventh Secretary of the Navy, serving until March 3, 1829. During his tenure, he enlarges the Navy, improves administration, purchases land for the first Naval Hospitals, begins construction of the first Navy dry docks, undertakes surveying U.S. coastal waters and promotes exploration in the Pacific Ocean. 1854 - Mare Island, Calif. becomes the first permanent U.S. naval installation on the west coast, with Cmdr. David G. Farragut as its first base commander. 1922 - Cmdr.

1815 - The sloop-of-war USS Hornet captures the brig sloop HMS Penguin after a 22 minute battle, with neither ship aware the War of 1812 is over. 1882 - Secretary of the Navy William H. Hunt (Jan. 7, 1881 to April 16, 1882), creates the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) with General Order No. 292. 1917 - USS New Mexico (BB 40) is launched. She is the first dreadnought with turboelectric drive. 1944 - USS Tunny (SS 282) sinks the Japanese submarine I 42 off the Palau Islands. 1945 - USS Haggard (DD 555) is damaged when she rams and sinks Japanese submarine RO 41 in the Philippine Sea.

Today in U.S. 1854 - Cdr. David G. Farragut takes possession of Mare Island, the first U.S. Navy Yard on the Pacific. 1922 - Cdr. Halsey Powell in USS Edsall became the senior officer directing the evacuation of 250,000 Greek refugees from Turkey after war between Greece and Turkey. 1940 - President Roosevelt signs Selective Training and Service Act, the first peacetime draft. 1958 - USS Grayback fires first operational launch of Regulus II surface to surface guided missile off Calif. coast; Missile carries first U.S. mail sent by guided missile.

1854 - CDR David G. Farragut takes possession of Mare Island, the first U.S. Navy Yard on the Pacific. 1922 - Commander Halsey Powell in USS Edsall became the senior officer directing the evacuation of 250,000 Greek refugees from Turkey after war between Greece and Turkey. 1940 - President Roosevelt signs Selective Training and Service Act, the first peacetime draft. 1958 - USS Grayback fires first operational launch of Regulus II surface to surface guided missile off CA coast; Missile carries first U.S. mail sent by guided missile. 1861 - Union landing party from USS Massachusetts takes possession of Ship Island south of New Orleans, LA. This was the headquarters for ADM David Farragut's Gulf Coast Blockading Squadron. 1926 - Navy brings relief aid to Miami, FL, after a severe hurricane.

1854 - CDR David G. Farragut takes possession of Mare Island, the first U.S. Navy Yard on the Pacific. 1917 - Navy Department authorizes establishment of 16 Naval air stations abroad 1922 - Commander Halsey Powell in USS Edsall became the senior officer directing the evacuation of 250,000 Greek refugees from Turkey after war between Greece and Turkey. 1940 - President Roosevelt signs Selective Training and Service Act, the first peacetime draft. 1958 - USS Grayback fires first operational launch of Regulus II surface to surface guided missile off CA coast; Missile carries first U.S. mail sent by guided missile. 1966 - USS Oriskany helicopters rescue 44-men crew of British merchant ship August Moon near Hong Kong (Source: Navy News Service)

854 - CDR David G. Farragut takes possession of Mare Island, the first U.S. Navy Yard on the Pacific. 1917 - Navy Department authorizes establishment of 16 Naval air stations abroad 1922 - Commander Halsey Powell in USS Edsall became the senior officer directing the evacuation of 250,000 Greek refugees from Turkey after war between Greece and Turkey. 1940 - President Roosevelt signs Selective Training and Service Act, the first peacetime draft. 1958 - USS Grayback fires first operational launch of Regulus II surface to surface guided missile off CA coast; Missile carries first U.S. mail sent by guided missile. 1966 - USS Oriskany helicopters rescue 44-men crew of British merchant ship August Moon near Hong Kong (Source: Navy News Service)

From the Navy News Service 1854 - Cmdr. David G. Farragut takes possession of Mare Island, the first U.S. Navy Yard on the Pacific. 1917 - Navy Department authorizes establishment of 16 Naval air stations abroad. 1922 - Cmdr. Halsey Powell abaord USS Edsall (DD 219) became the senior officer directing the evacuation of 250,000 Greek refugees from Turkey after war between Greece and Turkey. 1940 - President Roosevelt signs Selective Training and Service Act, the first peacetime draft. 1958 - USS Grayback (SS 208) fires first operational launch of Regulus II surface-to-surface guided missile off California coast; Missile carries first U.S. mail sent by guided missile. 1966 - USS Oriskany (CVA 34) helicopters rescue 44-man crew of British merchant ship August Moon near Hong Kong.

By Chief Journalist Milinda D. The ex-USS Oriskany (CVA 34), the last Essex-class aircraft carrier in the fleet’s inactive ship inventory, served the Navy for more then 25 years, maintaining a powerful presence during the Korean War and the Vietnam conflict. Decommissioned September 1976, the ship is ready to do more sea time, only this time beneath the surface, serving as an artificial reef. “Artificial reefing benefits the economical environment of the respective state receiving the ship by relieving stress on the natural reef,” said Capt. Lawrence M. Jones Jr., program manager for the Inactive Ships Program Office, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA).

A former naval ship which began its career 64 years ago is scheduled to perform a final mission, which might last more than 75 years. The Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg has changed its name, served three different military services, been featured in a major motion picture and will perform its final mission as an artificial reef when it is sunk off the coast of Key West, Fla. The 533-foot ship formerly known as the troop transport USS General Harry S. Taylor will serve an environmental mission to help relieve recreational pressure from the natural reef in the Florida Keys as part of the Vandenberg Artificial Reef Project. Vandenberg is being cleaned for the protection of marine life before its scheduled sinking in May 2008.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Gaines Huneycutt and his Coast Guard Station Destin, Fla., rescue boatcrew enforce a one-mile safety zone around the vessel seen on the horizon Wednesday, May 17, 2006. The vessel, formerly the USS Oriskany, an 888-foot Navy aircraft carrier, was rigged with explosives and sunk as an artificial reef about 23 miles southeast of Pensacola. Also involved in the safety zone enforcement, designed to ensure the safety of crews and spectators on scene, were boatcrews aboard the Coast Guard Cutters Cobia and Bonito, and patrol boats from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Alabama Marine Police, and local and county law enforcement agencies.

The US Coast Guard issued a press relase stating that it is enforcing a safety zone around the ex-USS ORISKANY as the obsolete aircraft carrier is towed into waters of the Gulf of Mexico near Pensacola where it will be scuttled to create the largest artificial reef in history. Source: HK Law

Decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA 34) sits in port at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, while undergoing necessary maintenance. The 32,000-ton, 888-ft. Oriskany was delivered to Pensacola, where it prepared for its final journey. A pierside press conference was held April 18 aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola to provide details of the final preparations for sinking the decommissioned aircraft carrier ex-Oriskany (CVA 34). With the rusting hulk of Oriskany as a backdrop, Capt. Lawrence Jones, Inactive Ships program manager in charge of the Oriskany project and Resolve Marine’s Vice President Denise Johnston answered questions about the sinking. Resolve-Esco Joint Venture is the contractor for the final work necessary to prep the ship for its ultimate disposition as a reef.

ceremonies held last night in Anchorage, Alaska. founder. winners of the award. management team. General Manager, Latin America Services. years," said Crowley. outside his normal scope of responsibility. USS New Jersey and USS Iowa, as well as the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany. He also helped secure a role for Crowley as a contractor for the U.S. 2001 Ehime Maru recovery and relocation operation in Hawaii. sank in 2,000 feet of water on Feb. Diamond Head. ocean floor about 12 miles off Oahu. position in the very competitive ship assist business. is a tremendous honor," Busch said. served aboard company tugs as a chief mate. responsibility. U.S. Navy Salvage Contract. director of sales for ship assist and escort services in 2001. Response Alliance LLC. Southwest Alaska Pilots Association.

The 2003 National Maritime Salvage Conference, sponsored by American Salvage Association (ASA), will take place September 9-11, 2003 at the Marriott Crystal City in Crystal City, VA. The first day of the conference, Tuesday, September 9, will offer a training seminar focusing on Salvage Contracting, a Mock LOF (Lloyds Open Form)Arbitration Proceeding, and a complete discussion of Salvage Plans. The conference program for September 10-11 will include discussion of Maritime Security, Wreck Removal, Contracting, U.S. Salvage Regulations and the International View of the Salvage Industry, Training, Marine Casualty Response at the World Trade Center, Responder Immunity, Salvage and the Environment, Incident Command Structure (ICS), Fire-fighting, and more.

With a blast that echoed across the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the USS Oriskany began her 36-minute-long descent into the depths of the blue waters some 25 miles off the coast of Pensacola, Fla., May 17. An estimated 250 vessels filled with spectators encircled the near 900 foot-long decommissioned Navy aircraft carrier to witness its historic plunge into 212 feet of water to begin her new life as an artificial reef as part of the Navy’s new initiative to dispose of several such vessels. More than 30 office staff members and project staff from Resolve Marine Group, Inc. were on hand to watch as the vessel was carefully rigged with explosives and then ceremoniously sunk.

Crowley Marine Services completed its third tow of an historic U.S. Naval battleship April 21, when the company's tug Sea Victory finished the 6,500-mile tow of the USS Iowa from Newport, R.I., to Suisun Bay, Calif. The Sea Victory's tow plan took the Iowa from Narragansett Bay, through the Crooked and Windward Passages to Cristobal, Panama. She then continued Northwest along the coast of Central America toward California. The Panama Canal transit, which took three full days, proved a tight fit with only eight inches to spare on either side of the Iowa as she was maneuvered through the locks. The Sea Victory towed the 888-ft. Iowa at…

The Crowley Marine Services' tug, Sea Victory will tow the USS New Jersey from Bremerton, Wash. to Philadelphia via the Panama Canal on September 12. The most decorated battleship in U.S. history, having earned 16 battle stars, the tug towed the former USS Missouri to Pearl Harbor last year. Most recently though was the tug's tow of the aircraft carrier the former USS Oriskany on a 15,000 mile journey around South America from Vallejo, Calif to Beaumont, Texas. Towing the 887 ft. (270 m), USS New Jersey at a speed of about 6 knots, the 149 ft. (45.4 m), 7,200-hp Sea Victory is one of the three Crowley tugs of this class. Designed to operate in immense adverse conditions, the tug is suited for ocean towing with a fuel capacity of about 200,000 gallons.

From the Navy News Service 1854 - Cmdr. David G. Farragut takes possession of Mare Island, the first U.S. Navy Yard on the Pacific. 1917 - Navy Department authorizes establishment of 16 Naval air stations abroad. 1922 - Cmdr. Halsey Powell abaord USS Edsall (DD 219) became the senior officer directing the evacuation of 250,000 Greek refugees from Turkey after war between Greece and Turkey. 1940 - President Roosevelt signs Selective Training and Service Act, the first peacetime draft. 1958 - USS Grayback (SS 208) fires first operational launch of Regulus II surface-to-surface guided missile off California coast; Missile carries first U.S. mail sent by guided missile. 1966 - USS Oriskany (CVA 34) helicopters rescue 44-man crew of British merchant ship August Moon near Hong Kong.

From the Navy News Service 1854 - Cmdr. David G. Farragut takes possession of Mare Island, the first U.S. Navy Yard on the Pacific. 1917 - Navy Department authorizes establishment of 16 Naval air stations abroad. 1922 - Cmdr. Halsey Powell abaord USS Edsall (DD 219) became the senior officer directing the evacuation of 250,000 Greek refugees from Turkey after war between Greece and Turkey. 1940 - President Roosevelt signs Selective Training and Service Act, the first peacetime draft. 1958 - USS Grayback (SS 208) fires first operational launch of Regulus II surface-to-surface guided missile off California coast; Missile carries first U.S. mail sent by guided missile. 1966 - USS Oriskany (CVA 34) helicopters rescue 44-man crew of British merchant ship August Moon near Hong Kong.

Todd Busch has been promoted to vice president of Titan, Crowley's newly acquired salvage company which will be a part of the company's Marine Services segment. of Marine Services. assist and escort business, will relocate from Crowley's Long Beach, Calif. office to Titan's Fort Lauderdale, Fla. headquarters. transportation and emergency response. honor. Oriskany. U.S. Navy's 2001 Ehime Maru recovery and relocation operation in Hawaii. in 1987," said Douglass. company tugs as a chief mate. has held a variety of other positions with increasing responsibility. commercial activities for Crowley's emergency services, and the U.S. salvage contract. Marine Response Alliance LLC. the Southwest Alaska Pilots Association. and Mate, 200 Gross Tons Inspected Vessels.