By Larry Shaughnessy, CNN Pentagon ProducerAugust 30, 2011 8:36 a.m. EDT

Aboard The Uss Wasp (CNN) — Three U.S. Navy ships were stationed a short helicopter ride from New York Harbor as the sun rose Tuesday, ready to lend a hand to states ravaged by Irene.

Located just over the horizon from New York Harbor, the USS Wasp, the USS New York and the USS San Antonio are on call should civilian authorities need their help in northern New Jersey, southern New York and Connecticut, Rear Adm. Kevin Scott told CNN.

The MH-53 and MH-60 helicopters on board are ideally suited for search and rescue missions.

Some of the MH-60s come equipped with a highly sensitive infrared camera that could help a pilot spot the body heat of a person trapped by flood water in a tree or on the roof of a car.

If sent in to help, the helicopters would carry Navy divers who are trained for water rescues.

The ships could sail up or down the East Coast if help is needed outside the tri-state region, Scott said.

While the ships may return to port without ever receiving orders to assist, Scott said this mission has been extremely valuable for the Navy, because it gives the Navy a chance to apply what it learned about humanitarian relief after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Because the Navy is busy with missions all over the world, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and the fight against fighting piracy off Somalia, this kind of training is rare.

Sailors aboard the Wasp brushed up on their disaster response skills Monday as helicopter pilots practiced takeoffs and landings on the flight deck.

The Tiger Team — a group of sailors from all over the ship who volunteered to go ashore and help hurricane victims — got refresher briefings on everything from how to handle disaster victims to how to chain saw safety to how to deal with news reporters.

The training is scheduled to start again first thing after breakfast Tuesday, Scott said, unless orders for real-life hurricane relief interrupt.

Tags: News

By Larry Shaughnessy, CNN Pentagon ProducerAugust 28, 2011 8:39 p.m. EDT

Aboard The Uss Wasp (CNN) — The Navy is sending three amphibious ships towards the New York and New England region in anticipation that the ships may be called upon to assist civilian authorities responding to Hurricane Irene, according to a spokesman for the Navy on the USS Wasp.

The Wasp, according to Lt. Cmdr. Jim Krohne, will be joined by the USS Oak Hill and the USS New York — a ship built in part with steel from the wreckage of the World Trade Center. Now the ship-born-of-a-man-made-tragedy is prepared to help its namesake city respond to a natural disaster.

The three ships are all capable of providing helicopters and floating landing craft for a wide array of humanitarian response, including search-and-rescue, road and debris clearing, emergency communications, emergency medical support, and even an air-traffic control if needed.

Krohne said the three ships — part of a larger unit called Amphibious Task Force 26 — are expected to arrive off the Northeast coast on Monday. They will be able to start flying aid in as the ships get within 120 miles from the area they would be helping.

But the whole mission is still a matter of preparedness, because no official orders have been given to the Navy to start having the ships join the relief effort.

Tags: air, ALL, alt, amp, amphibious ships, disaster, emergency, hurricane, mil, namesake, namesake city, Navy, New York, News, Pentagon, Steel, support, USS, USS New York, ussnewyork, warship, warships, week, WHOLE, width, World Trade Center, wreckage

In Mid-July, Schumer Personally Lobbied Navy Secretary Ray Mabus to Send the USS New York to the 10th Anniversary Commemoration; Ship Will Port in New York City in Lead up to Ceremony

The USS New York is Constructed with Seven and a Half Tons of Steel from the World Trade Center; The Ship’s Motto is “Never Forget”

Schumer: The U.S.S. New York’s Presence on the 10th Anniversary of the Attacks Will be a Solemn Tribute to the Memories of Those We Lost

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that the United States Navy has agreed to anchor the USS New York off lower Manhattan to join the 10th anniversary ceremonies of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. In a personal letter to Secretary Ray Mabus in July, Schumer urged that the Navy return the USS New York to her namesake for the commemoration, as its presence in New York Harbor would be of incredible significance to those who lost loved ones in the attacks. After weeks of negotiation, Schumer today announced the ship will anchor off Manhattan to provide a backdrop for the day’s services, and will port for several days at a New York pier before the ceremony.

“It just didn’t make sense for this powerful and awesome demonstration of American strength, born out of the rubble of 9/11, not to be present for the 10th anniversary ceremonies,” said Schumer. “Over seven tons of steel from the World Trade Center were used to construct this ship and its return home makes good on its motto, ‘Never Forget’.”

The USS New York is a U.S. Navy amphibious transport ship built using steel from the site of the World Trade Center in New York City. Schumer noted that the attendance of the USS New York’s crew would also play an incredibly important and symbolic role in the September 11th anniversary ceremony, as these brave individuals fight to combat terrorism and defend the United States’ freedom each day.

The USS New York LPD-21 was commissioned on November 7, 2009, and is the fifth amphibious transport dock of the San Antonio class. The ship was named New York after the state and incorporates in its construction steel salvaged from the World Trade Centers. The ship wasbuilt with 7.5 tons of steel from the World Trade Center in her bow. Her ship motto is “Never Forget.” Schumer noted that the steel from the WTC towers, now in the form of the USS New York, is now fittingly being used to combat terrorism and defend the United States’ freedom.

A number of events are planned in the city on September 11, 2011, and calls for the ship’s presence had been echoed by a range of area groups, including 9/11 survivors and the FDNY Uniformed Firefighters Association.

A copy of Senator Schumer’s July letter to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus appears below:

Dear Secretary Mabus:

As New Yorkers and the nation prepare to observe the tenth anniversary of the atrocious acts of September 11, 2001, I urge that the Navy bring the USS New York to her namesake city to participate in the commemoration of that anniversary. This day will have great significance for those who lost loved ones at the Twin Towers, and it would be so fitting for them to be joined by the ship forged with steel from those towers.

New Yorkers are incredibly proud of our Navy, and we deeply recognize the great accomplishments and sacrifices which our service members have made in the last decade. The naming of the USS New York was a fitting recognition of both the loss which occurred in New York on 9/11, and of the city’s great resiliency and resolve in response to that event. My fellow New Yorkers and I would be deeply moved to share the anniversary of 9/11 in the company of the Sailors and Marines who serve aboard that great ship. I also invite and encourage you to participate in the events planned in New York for that day.

All New Yorkers understand as well as anyone that the Navy fleet is fully employed with a critical national security mission. Given that, having the USS New York participate in the 9/11 anniversary ceremony would mean a great deal to them, and especially to the families of those who lost their lives in that tragic event which irrevocably changed our national security stance almost ten years ago. I urge you to consider this request, and to come to New York yourself to take part in the solemn ceremonies marking the anniversary of that event.

Tags: 10th anniversary, 11th anniversary, american strength, amphibious transport, anniversary ceremony, anniversary commemoration, charles e schumer, lower manhattan, News, ray mabus, september 11 2001, september 11 2001 terrorist attacks, symbolic role, tons of steel, transport ship, u s navy, united states navy, using steel, USS New York LPD-21