The weather, near summer-like, made the event all the more special.ĭespite being just 387 feet long and weighing 3,500 metric tons, building the vessel required a great effort, said Vandroff. About 3,000 invited guests, including dignitaries, shipyard officials, employees, retirees, the ship’s assigned crew, and other Navy personnel,were gathered at the shipyard. with a successful swing of a sparkling wine bottle on the bow.

Modly - christened the ship shortly before 11:30 a.m. The ship’s sponsor, Robyn Modly - wife of former Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. We’re a modern shipyard and we have to adapt to the way of the future.” “It’s the way people have put ships into the water for literally thousands of years - with basically the same technology. “It’s an end of an era, these side launches are visibly spectacular and they’re a lot of fun to do,” said Fincantieri Marinette Chief Executive Officer Mark Vandroff. It also became the final vessel to slide sideways down a ramp into the waters of the Menominee River.Īll subsequent launches at the site will utilize a shiplift system, replacing a millennia-old launch technique.

First because the event marked the 16th and final Freedom-class littoral combat ship that will be delivered to the U.S. It was a notable event in more ways than one. Navy launched the future USS Cleveland (LCS-31) at a ceremony in Marinette, Wisconsin.

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