USS New York Visits New York City

A Navy assault ship built with steel from the fallen World Trade Center and named in honor of the state that was home to the Twin Towers is making its inaugural visit to New York City.

The USS New York sailed up the Hudson River Monday morning after a 21-gun salute near Ground Zero. The USS New York is now docked on the West Side of Manhattan.

• SLIDESHOW: USS New York
• USS New York Web Site

"I think it's going to be awe-inspiring," Lt. Cmdr. Colette Murphy said. Of the 361 sailors serving aboard the ship, around 13 percent are from New York state, which is higher than would normally be the case, Murphy said. There were many requests from Navy personnel to serve on the ship, which will also be carrying around 250 Marines, she said.

Tthe ship is expected to sail upriver to the George Washington Bridge, where it will turn around and head south to Pier 88, where it will dock. An official commissioning ceremony is scheduled for Saturday.

The New York will remain in the city through Veterans' Day and then head to Norfolk, Va., for about a year of crew training and exercises, Murphy said.

The ship is 684 feet long and can carry as many as 800 Marines. Its flight deck that can handle helicopters and the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

It was scheduled to be built before the terrorist attacks. About a year later, the announcement came that the ship would bear the name New York to honor the city, state, and those who died.

It's the latest in a line of Navy ships to bear that name. The others included a Spanish-American War-era cruiser, a battleship that served in World Wars I and II and a nuclear submarine retired from the fleet in 1997.

The ship is technically known as a San Antonio-class amphibious dock vessel. Four vessels in that class are in service, the USS San Antonio, USS New Orleans, USS Mesa Verde and USS Green Bay. Four others are being built. Of those, two also have been named in connection with the Sept. 11 attacks -- the USS Arlington and USS Somerset.

USS NEW YORK (LPD-21) PUBLIC SHIP VISITS ...

She is now docked at Pier 88, on 12th Avenue at 48th Street -- near the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum -- and will be open to the public free of charge during specific times and dates. They are:

– Wednesday, November 4 – 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
– Thursday, November 5 – 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
– Sunday, November 8 – 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
– Monday, November 9 – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
– Tuesday, November 10 – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
– Wednesday, November 11 – 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
(Dates and times are subject to change; updates will be posted here.)

NO LARGE PACKAGES OR BACKPACKS WILL BE PERMITTED.

Those who plan to go aboard the ship are advised to:
-- Arrive early as lines may be long, especially on Sunday, Nov. 8.
-- Enter at the West 46th Street and 12th Avenue entranceway.
-- Bring a photo ID.
-- Wear comfortable shoes.