AVONDALE, La., July 2, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Northrop Grumman Corporation-built (NYSE:NOC) New York (LPD 21) successfully accomplished builder’s sea trials this week in the Gulf of Mexico. The ship’s bow stem contains seven-and-a-half tons of steel recovered from the World Trade Center following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. LPD 21 is under construction at the company’s Avondale facility in Louisiana.

A photo accompanying this news release is available at: http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/

A video accompanying this news release is available at: http://www.sb.northropgrumman.com/media/video/assets/2009/lpd21_384k.wmv

“This ship is a symbol of American patriotism at its finest, not only for the steel in the bow stem cutting through the water, but also for the committed shipbuilders who constructed her with a focus on quality,” Tim Farrell, vice president and program manager, LPD program, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding – Gulf Coast.

“This ship will perform many different missions for our sailors and Marines and our shipbuilding workforce continues to instill their sense of pride into every part of this ship. We understand how sending this ship to the Fleet honors the heroes and victims of that terrible day in our Nation’s history.”

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding’s test and trials group tested LPD 21’s main propulsion, communications, steering, navigational, radar and other systems. Other exercises included anchor handling, flight operations, compartment air balancing and ballasting/de-ballasting of the well deck, where amphibious landing craft will be launched.

“I’ve been very pleased across the board with everything I’ve seen on this builder’s trials,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. F. Curtis Jones of Binghamton, N.Y., the prospective commanding officer of the ship who will lead the crew of 360 officers and enlisted personnel.

“It’s a huge undertaking and the level of effort, pride and attention to detail by the shipbuilders is extraordinarily apparent. Between the individual crafts and all the workers, it’s clear a lot of extra hard work went into getting the ship to this point. I’m very excited and happy with the way the ship has performed. I’m looking forward to being able to call this ship our own.”

New York is the fifth amphibious transport dock ship in the San Antonio class. The LPD 17 San Antonio class is the newest addition to the Navy’s 21st-Century amphibious assault force.

LPD 21 is the fifth ship to bear the name New York. Previous ships include the battleship USS New York (BB 34), which served as a flagship in World War I. In World War II, the battleship participated in a pre-invasion bombardment of Iwo Jima and in the invasion of Okinawa and was grazed by a kamikaze. USS New York earned three battle stars for its World War II service.

The 684-foot, 105-foot-wide LPD transport dock ships are used to transport and land U.S. Marines, their equipment and supplies by embarked air cushioned or conventional landing craft, expeditionary fighting vehicles, amphibious assault vehicles, helicopters, and vertical take off and landing aircraft such as the Osprey. The ships will support amphibious assault special operations, or expeditionary warfare missions throughout the first half of the 21st century.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.

CONTACT: Bill Glenn, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (228) 935-3972 William.Glenn@ngc.com

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The Commissioning of PCU New York will take place on November 7th, 2009 at the Intrepid Museum Pier 88 South, Pier 86 North New York City, NY, 10036, USA.

Finally, some of what we lost returns, The USS New York, LPD-21, will parade into New York Harbor on Monday, November 2nd of 2009 for what will undoubtedly be the Commissioning event of the century. No other ship in world history carries the sentiment and import this ship possesses. In her bow is 7.5 tons of World Trade Center Steel, on her decks are the best and brightest crew this nation can produce and in our hearts, the hopes and dreams of a nation that will not be kept down. Please join us for the Feel Good America event of our generation, we all knew where we were when they fell, you want to be here when they return!

Monday, November 2nd, 2009 – Harbor entrance
PCU New York will pass under the Verrazano Bridge and be joined by a flotilla of boats from Federal, State and City organizations as well as local municipalities, ferry companies and private boats. Many of these vessels responded on 9-11 to assist with evacuation, some with firefighting and some with the aftermath as New York struggled to clean-up and rebuild. A few are named after heroes who fell that terrible day, like PCU New York. Many were the vessels that turned Flight 1549 from an air crash into a Miracle. They all come to pay respect to what was lost and to welcome what has returned. It is here, at this time and place that we draw a line in the sand and say, We Will Never Forget.
Many events are being planned for the week with public visitation of this great ship a priority. As schedules firm up we will post that information.

Saturday, November 7th, 2009 – Commissioning Day for PCU New York
Its been 2948 days since the attack, more than a day for every man, woman and child killed. The greatest testament to our resolve is being commissioned into service with the United States Navy. There will be speeches, songs, tears, and emotions so strong its hard to speak. With the words Man your ship and bring her to life the world will change, at least for us. She will never fill the hole, but she will fill our hearts.

Tags: air crash, city organizations, event of the century, ferry companies, firefighting, flotilla, harbor entrance, hopes and dreams, Intrepid Museum, line in the sand, man woman and child, News, november 2nd, private boats, public visitation, united states navy, USS New York, USS New York LPD-21, verrazano bridge, woman and child, world history