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The U.S. Navy announced that Fleet Week celebrations in NY will be drastically reduced this year as federal cuts roll-in due to sequestration. The annual event has been a New York tradition since 1984. Each year, hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors alike look forward to the opportunity to show our thanks and support to thousands of sailors, and take part in the many Fleet Week events held around our waterfront over the Memorial Day weekend.
Parade of Ships, Fleet Week 2012. Photo: Mai Armstrong
Posted on Fleet Week New York’s facebook page last Thursday: The Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard must follow DoD direction that no branch of the armed forces may partipate in community relations or outreach events that come at additional cost to the government or rely on anything other than local assets and personnel. We must, and will, follow that direction…which includes FWNY. (bb)
NY harbor filled with ships, OpSail/Fleet Week New York 2012. Photo: Mai Armstrong
From NY1: The city’s annual Fleet Week celebration could be set adrift this year. The event was set to begin on May 23, but may not happen because of federal budget cuts.
Navy spokeswoman Beth Baker tells NY1 no branch of the armed forces are being allowed to take part in community relations or outreach programs that come at an added cost to the government.
That means the city will not see a parade of ships up the Hudson River for the first time in more than 25 years.
“This is just one of the many steps the Navy’s taking to ensure our resources are in place to support our forces, operating now and training to relieve them. Community relations and outreach efforts with additional costs are going to have to be done with local units,” Baker said.
Blue Angels Fly Over, Fleet Week 2012. Photo: Mai Armstrong
From the Times Columnist: The Navy spends $7 million to $10 million on average for the annual event, a sum that includes docking fees, fuel costs, security, hotel rooms and transporting large ships and aircraft to New York.
Fleet Week generates an estimated $20 million for the city across the board, including tax revenue and hotel and restaurant spending, according to the city’s Economic Development Corporation.
Last year, 21 U.S. and coalition ships sailed into the harbor as more than two dozen aircraft flew high above the Hudson River. The week features parades, ship tours, impressive displays of military aviation prowess and other events intended to educate the public about the Navy.
City officials learned of the decision Thursday. Fleet Week was supposed to kick off May 23.
Fireboat John J. Harvey leads the Parade of Ships/Sail, Fleet Week/OpSail 2012. Photo: Mitch Waxman
City Scrambles to Save Fleet Week
From the NY Daily News: City lawmakers will push military brass to drop anchor for Fleet Week despite steep spending cuts, eyeing a boost for the city’s economy — and national morale.
When Washington failed to cut a deficit-reduction deal on March 1, the ax fell on roughly 8% of the defense budget, and major outreach efforts were first to go.
The Pentagon still plans events with more than 1,500 area-based Navy and Marine Corps personnel starting May 26 — but no ships — while the far smaller Coast Guard doesn’t plan to participate formally at all.
USCG Cutter escorts the USS Wasp, Fleet Week 2012. Photo: Mitch Waxman.
“Fleet Week wouldn’t be ‘Fleet Week’ without the fleet,” said Marine vet and Rep. Michael Grimm (R-Staten Island, Brooklyn).
He and other congressional reps from the city were scrambling in the wake of news that the annual docking of military ships along the city’s coastline had fallen victim to steep federal spending cuts related to a protracted budget dispute.
“The absence of naval ships docked in Staten Island will certainly be felt, and I urge the Department of Defense to reconsider,” Grimm said.
Curtailing Fleet Week would be “tragic,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens). “For whatever it costs, it earns much more in spirit, patriotism and tourism.”
by Mai Armstrong for Working Harbor Committee
LHD1 returns to her Naval Station. credit: US Navy
Military Ships open to the public during Fleet Week New York
From Fleet Week NY: Norfolk, VA (NRMA) – Twenty-one U.S. and coalition ships will participate in the 25th anniversary of Fleet Week New York, a celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, beginning with the Parade of Ships May 23.
- The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) and United States Coast Guard Cutter, USCGC Eagle (WIX-327) will be moored at Pier 90 and 92 in Manhattan.
- The destroyers USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), USS Mitscher (DDG 57) and the cruiser, USS San Jacinto (CG 56) will be moored at the Homeport Pier in Staten Island.
- The USCGC Willow (WMEC 202) and USCGC Seneca (WMEC 906) and the coalition warships RFA Argus, JS Shirane and HMCS Iroquois will be moored at Brooklyn Piers 7 and 8.
Check website for public visitation schedules.
Touring Tips
- Wear comfortable clothing and shoes; avoid high-heels, jewelry that can get caught and heavy bags
- All bags will be searched prior to entering
- Bottles, cans/containers; banners, posters/signs; sprays, chemicals; weapons, combustibles, explosives; illegal drugs; flammable liquids/aerosol spray cans; strictly prohibited.
- Animals/pets strictly prohibited.
- The U.S. Navy reserves the right to prohibit other items not listed above.
- Photography is permitted on board the ships during tours.
- There is no age requirement to tour U.S. Navy Ships during Fleet Week. However, tours may not be appropriate for small children or individuals with medical conditions.
credit: Fleet Week New York
Fleet Week has been held in New York every year since 1984. Fleet Week New York gives the residents and visitors of New York/New Jersey a chance to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as see, first-hand, our nation’s state-of-the-art maritime services. More than 6,000 service men and women from the U.S. and coalition forces will arrive aboard the warships.
Fleet Week New York 2010. Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Randall A. Clinton
From Fleet Week NY: This year, Fleet Week New York is one of the signature events around the country commemorating OpSail 2012, the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled Banner. The commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 is a salute to all Sailors and Marines who fought gallantly in that conflict, who served in all our nation’s conflicts since then, and who are defending freedom around the world today. For more information, visit the official Fleet Week New York City website at www.fleetweeknewyork.com or find Fleet Week New York on Facebook.
Join Working Harbor Committee for two special events:
- May 22nd – OpSail 2012 Tall Ships Hidden Harbor tour – see the anchored vessels up close. Click for tickets.
- May 23rd – OpSail 2012 VIP Parade of Sail tour – includes brunch! Click for tickets.
See you on board!
by Mai Armstrong for Working Harbor Committee
Juan Sebastián de Elcano. credit: Thad Koza
The Juan Sebastián de Elcano is a four-masted topsail, steel-hulled schooner. At 113 m. (370 feet) long, she is the third-largest tall ship in the world. Built in 1927, she is the Royal Spanish Navy’s sail training ship. She was named after Juan Sebastián Elcano, a Spanish (Basque) sailor, navigator and explorer, best remembered for completing the first circumnavigation of the world.
The figurehead is the Roman Goddess Minerva, carrying the Spanish coat of arms at her feet. credit: Maritime Texas
From typicallyspanish.com: On board are 43 cadets receiving training as midshipmen. Both King Juan Carlos and the Prince of Asturias are amongst those who have been trained on board the schooner. The Elcano is one of the oldest and largest sailing ships to navigate the waters of the world and serves an additional purpose, as a ‘floating Ambassador,’ which, as the Navy says, also allows many Spaniards who live abroad to step onto this small piece of Spain.
Join Working Harbor Committee for two special OpSail 2012 events:
- May 22nd – OpSail 2012 Tall Ships Hidden Harbor tour – see the anchored vessels up close. Click for tickets.
- May 23rd – OpSail 2012 VIP Parade of Sail tour – includes brunch! Click for tickets.
Only 19 days to go!
by Mai Armstrong for Working Harbor Committee
Veleiro Cisne Branco – Naval ship of Brazil. credit: Navy of Brazil
Cisne Branco
One of 17 tall ships coming to New York harbor for OpSail 2012, the Cisne Branco – which means “White Swan” in Portuguese – is the Brazilian navy’s three-masted sail training tall ship. She was built in the Netherlands by Stocheepswerf Damen and launched in November 1999. Commissioned as a Brazilian naval vessel in 2000, she serves as a sail training vessel and as an international representative.
From SILive: The international flotilla will be led by the U.S. Coast Guard cutter “Eagle,” and will pass under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, enter New York Harbor, and sail up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge. The ships will then turn and head to their respective berths in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island.
Three of the ships – which are an impressive 250 feet or so in length – will head to Staten Island, arriving around 2 p.m.
Colombia’s “Glory,” Ecuador’s “Guayas,” and Brazil’s “Cisne Branco” will be berthed at The Sullivans’ pier at the former Stapleton homeport for the duration of Fleet Week, which runs May 23-30.
The Parade of Sail will occur the morning of May 23rd, with the USCG Cutter Eagle leading the fleet.
Watch this short video of her in full sail. What a sight!
From SILive: Millions of spectators are expected to witness the event from the city’s shores and the New Jersey waterfront along the Hudson River. The tall ships made their last visit here in 2000.
The Navy’s ace “Blue Angels” team also will fly over the flotilla during the opening event at 11:30 a.m.
The Working Harbor Committee has added two special tours for OpSail 2012:
- May 22nd – OpSail 2012 Tall Ships Hidden Harbor tour – see vessels at anchor up close
- May 23rd – OpSail 2012 VIP Parade of Sail tour – includes brunch!
Stay tuned for OpSail 2012 updates!
by Mai Armstrong for Working Harbor Committee
Tall Ship Dewaruci at Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
credit: Bruce Bodner
OpSail 2012 is fast approaching. With 17 tall ships sailing into our harbor May 23rd, I wanted to take a closer look at some of the vessels participating in the New York celebrations.
KRI Dewaruci
The Indonesian Navy’s sail training vessel, the KRI Dewaruci, is one of the 17 tall ships that will sail into New York harbor next month. On January 15, Dewaruci set sail from her home port of Surabaya, East Java on a 9-month long circumnavigation of the globe.
From Wikipedia: The KRI Dewaruci (sometimes spelled Dewa Ruci or Dewarutji; KRI: Kapal Perang Republik Indonesia) is a Class A tall ship and the only tall mast ship of the Barquentine class owned and operated by the Indonesian Navy. She is used as a sail training vessel for naval cadets and is the largest tall ship in the Indonesian fleet.
The Kri Dewaruci is a sail training ship. She is 58.27 meters in length and 36.48 meters high, boasting 16 sails with a total sail area of 1091m².
From Tall Ships America: She was built in 1952 by H. C. Stulchen and Son of Hamburg, Germany and launched in 1953. Since then the ship has served the Indonesian Navy as a sail training vessel and a successful ambassador of goodwill for the people of Indonesia. Dewaruci’s name and figurehead represent the mythological Indonesian god of truth and courage.
Kri Dewaruci figurehead. credit: Nikolay, Bulgaria
While on her journey, the Dewaruci will promote Indonesian culture and tourism through performances, parades and meet-and-greets with locals. At ports of call, Dewaruci will set up Open Ship, offering a rare opportunity for locals to board this legendary ship.
From Indonesian Tourism: Sailing around the world in 277 days, the ship will cross the Pacific to the United States, join “Operation Sail 2012”, calling on a total 21 American, European, African and Asian ports to finally return to its base on 16 October 2012.
The journey has three missions, said Admiral Soeparno. Besides serving as a training vessel for cadets to practice astronomical navigation, the ship will also join Operation Sail 2012 in the USA. Moreover, throughout this journey the ship and crew will promote “Wonderful Indonesia” through cultural performances, parades, and meeting the locals.
Join Working Harbor Committee May 22nd, on a special OpSail anchored vessels tour. See tall ships from around the world up close, as they gather for the big parade the next day. Expert guest narrators will talk about the vessels and their history. Click here for tickets.
by Mai Armstrong for Working Harbor Committee
Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal
The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron “Blue Angels” perform a survey flight in New York City on Monday to prepare for Fleet Week New York 2012.
As part of an aerial survey flight for the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron “Blue Angels,” two F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets yesterday conducted test runs over the Hudson River between the George Washington and Verrazano-Narrows bridges.
The aircraft conducted passes as low as 500 feet above the river and at speeds approaching 345 mph in order to familiarize and evaluate a potential flight course for the upcoming U.S. Navy War of 1812 commemoration during this year’s Fleet Week celebration in May, officials said.
The aircraft departed Republic Airfield in Farmingdale, N.Y., and conducted two passes over the Hudson River, one north and one south, between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
The two planes were visible all along the Hudson River in Hudson County.
Even with a stiff cold wind blowing off the river, several people took in the practice run from Pier A in Hoboken.
