Navy’s Fleet Week brings all aboard

Associated Press

NEW YORK — Although at war for the second time since Fleet Week became an annual fixture in New York harbor, the U.S. Navy is bringing in more ships than usual, and inviting the public aboard for the first time since Sept. 11.

Even so, Navy officials say security for the maritime celebration is unprecedented, with airport-type restrictions on visitors’ bags and other items, and a commercial blimp, contracted by the Navy, patrolling above the Hudson River and beaming live television images to two ground security stations.

Twenty ships — 18 American, one Canadian and one from Denmark — with 6,000 sailors aboard will participate in Fleet Week, which started in 1987. The event runs Wednesday through May 28. This year’s mix of cruisers, destroyers and frigates includes seven ships recently returned from duty in Operation Enduring Freedom, the war in Afghanistan.

While a few visitors have been aboard U.S. ships since the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Fleet Week marks the first invitation to the general public, spokesman Navy Capt. William Armstrong said.

"This is an opportunity for the people of New York to recognize the work done by the fleet sailors and Marines in responding to the Taliban and al-Qaida," Armstrong said. "That’s why the Navy has made an exception to the policy — for the people of New York City."

Ships in the Wednesday arrival parade will "render honors" — a salute by sailors manning the rails — as they move up the Hudson River past the trade center site where more than 2,800 people died.

The Navy plans special ship tours for firefighters, police officers and others who helped in rescue, recovery and cleanup at the trade center.

Absent this year will be the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy, a perennial Fleet Week visitor. With the flattop and its crew of 5,000 on combat duty in the Arabian Sea, the amphibious assault carrier USS Iwo Jima heads the lineup.