The go to comes precisely two weeks after the Fort Lauderdale was delivered to the Navy by Huntington Ingalls Industries and two weeks previous to crew transfer aboard.
“You see move-aboard day looming sooner or later and identical to any shifting day it has created the proper of urgency and so it was simply such a deal with to spend a while right here since you see a ship and it begins with the keel and you’ll solely think about what it’s going to be and when it turns into a actuality it truly is spectacular,” mentioned Berger.
Throughout her go to, Berger toured the ship, spoke to the crew and awarded Sailors with cash to thank them for his or her distinctive job efficiency all through the pre-commissioning strategy of the fleet’s latest amphibious transport dock ship.
“I believe this can be a crew that’s punching above their weight,” Berger mentioned. “Everybody that I met was taking over extra tasks, going the additional mile in coaching and ensuring they have been doing every thing for each piece and a part of this ship to make it one of the best that it may be so I’m impressed, I’m proud and I can’t wait to see what they carry on doing. They’re setting the bar for what the expectation will likely be for Fort Lauderdale and it’s really excellence. They’re setting the bar so excessive and so I do know that not solely this crew however all that observe will likely be arrange for fulfillment due to the usual that’s set.”
The final time Berger noticed the ship was seven months in the past when she christened the ship.
“It was so thrilling to really get on the ship. I didn’t get the prospect to final time after I was right here for Christening and so it was a tease,” mentioned Berger. “I obtained to have a look at it however I didn’t get to go and see every thing and so total, it was so thrilling to see and contact and really feel the ship and I additionally obtained to satisfy the Sailors who’re the Fort Lauderdale and so my impression was simply that is the actual deal and I obtained to see all of it in a method that I didn’t get to final time. Massive advances have been made. You’ll be able to see the guts within the work that everybody is doing to verify the ship is prepared.”
Berger was joined on the tour of the ship by Naval Sea Methods Command’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP) Gulf Coast personnel, Huntington Ingalls Shipyard personnel, in addition to Fort Lauderdale’s Commanding Officer Capt. James Quaresimo and Command Grasp Chief James Magee.
“It was an absolute honor having Secretary Berger go to,” Quaresimo mentioned. “We’re proud to have the ability to showcase the ship and the crew was very excited to satisfy her. I used to be nice that she took the time to cease and converse with them and acknowledge their laborious work.”
Quaresimo and the crew will fee the longer term USS Fort Lauderdale later this 12 months.
“We’re very a lot trying ahead to the subsequent steps of shifting aboard, certifying for operations at sea, and setting sail for our namesake metropolis to conduct commissioning,” mentioned Quaresimo.
For extra information on PCU Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) go to https://www.fb.com/FORTLAUDERDALELPD28.
