FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A large military ship has docked in South Florida.
The massive vessel carries supplies such as vehicles, aircraft, combat gear and most importantly, servicemen.
The ship will be officially commissioned on Saturday and will then be ready for any mission.
“We have 684 feet of sovereign U.S. territory,” said Capt. James Quaresimo, Commanding Officer in the U.S. Navy.
The warship weighs 7,000 tons and sits 12 stories high above the water.
It will be used for combat and will transport marines, equipment, tanks and supplies.
“Anything, a small collection of vehicles, to max weight or one M1A1 tank,” said Joshua Pearsall, Master Chief in the U.S. Navy.
Late retired Senior Chief Petty Officer Charles “Chuck” Black is credited with the naming of the ship, who made this decade-long effort a reality.
“The Navy League and the city here always opens up their arms to the U.S. Navy. It’s just fantastic in that regard,” said Quaresimo, “and he started really working with local leaders and members of Congress.”
The warship is the first Navy ship to be named after the City of Fort Lauderdale because of the Navy’s historic ties to the city.
“I don’t think I’ve felt more welcomed in any city that I’ve been in,” said Quaresimo. “You walk on the streets here, and there’s a hundred thousand people out there, don’t know you at all, but yet, want to help you out, and it’s just an amazing opportunity when we do go out in town, you can just feel the connection there between us and the city.”
The USS Fort Lauderdale has a fully operational hospital on board with 24 beds, 6 ICUs and 2 operating rooms. There is also an airport on the back of the vessel.
On the ship, there are even aircraft like a NV 22 Osprey. The ship can carry up to four aircraft at a time.
Most importantly, the USS Fort Lauderdale will house and transport marines who will serve the country when called upon.
“What stands out to me is the aspect of building a team and a family,” said James Magee, Command Master Chief in the U.S. Navy, “so coming here, everybody operates as we are one.”
Although the ship has incredible combat power, it packs just as much compassion as it will also be used on humanitarian missions.
“If we have a hurricane somewhere, we can go down to Haiti, we’ll go down and provide humanitarian response for that,” said Quaresimo.
Around 700 Marines will embark on the warship at a time.
Being on the USS Fort Lauderdale has sentimental meaning for Chief Boatswain’s Mate Tiago Campos who gets to see his hometown honored.
“I grew up here, I went to school here. I’ve been away for 19 years, and just coming back here at the tail end of my career commissioning this, it’s amazing,” he said. “This is just phenomenal. It’s amazing.”
After its commissioning, it will be on its way to Norfolk, Virginia, and then will be ready to be deployed anywhere.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.