Naval Station Everett will be swarming with sailors Wednesday with the arrival of five Navy ships and a Coast Guard cutter.
The vessels, which include ships not normally seen at Naval Station Everett – such as an amphibious assault ship, two guided-missile cruisers and an amphibious transport dock – will be participating in Seafair’s parade of ships. The ships and their crews will spend the night in Everett before sailing Thursday to the maritime festival in Seattle.
But the approximately 4,100 visiting sailors won’t get to see much of Everett while they’re here. Although they’ll get liberty, they won’t be able to leave the confines of Naval Station Everett.
Officials at Naval Station Everett are refining plans to keep the sailors occupied and entertained during their brief visit. A barbecue picnic is in the works, and the event will feature goofy games such as bouncing boxing and pseudo sumo wrestling.
Five of the six visiting ships have their homeports in San Diego. Those ships include:
* The guided-missile cruisers USS Shiloh and the USS Princeton, with crews of about 360;
* The USS Duluth, a 569-foot-long amphibious transport dock with a crew of about 1,440;
* The USS Pearl Harbor, a 610-foot-long dock landing ship with a crew of about 850;
* And the USS Bonhomme Richard, an 844-foot-long amphibious assault ship with a crew of about 1,080.
Also expected to arrive in Everett on Wednesday: the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast, with a crew of approximately 75 from its home port in Astoria, Ore.
None of the Navy vessels stationed in Everett is participating in the parade of ships, and Naval Station Everett’s biggest warship, the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, is expected to pull out for training Tuesday.
The arrival of the fleet in Seattle is scheduled for noon Thursday.
Reporter Brian Kelly: 425-339-3422 or kelly@heraldnet.com.
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