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New Supercarrier Pier and Recreation Facility in Northwest

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030320-16
Release Date: 3/20/2003 3:41:00 PM

By Pat Callender, Engineering Field Activity Northwest Public Affairs

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- A surprise is awaiting USS Carl Vinson's (CVN 70) crew when she returns from deployment. A new carrier pier and pierside recreation facility opened recently at Naval Station Bremerton, Wash., Vinson's home port.

The new 'Pier Delta' significantly improves the capabilities of the naval station, and the pierside recreation facility gives Navy personnel an opportunity for a break from shipboard life.

The project, which began in December 2000, was completed this month at a cost of $65 million. The pier is primary berthing for a nuclear carrier and two fast combat support ships simultaneously, but it can support a combination of ship types.

The new 1,310-by-150-foot pier, with some electrical modifications, could berth a carrier on each side of the pier. The new pier provides enough deck space for safe handling of materials, emergency vehicle access, and sufficient pier and deck strength to handle cranes and mooring loads with structural capacity to support 140-ton mobile cranes.

While the pier makes Naval Station Bremerton more essential to the Navy, it's the fleet recreation facility, known as "Sinclair's," that Sailors are finding more attractive.

Big screen video games and Internet access were the primary interest of Sailors visiting the facility for the first time. The 5,000-square foot facility includes laundry facilities, a big-screen TV and other conveniences for crew members.

"This is a chance to be somewhere else other than the ship," said Cmdr. Marci Pinkerton. "It would be like if you lived in your office, slept in your office and ate with the same people every day," Pinkerton said. "You just need a break from the work environment. This keeps them fresh and ready to do their jobs."

Naval Facilities Engineering Command's Engineering Field Activity Northwest in Poulsbo, Wash., contracted and oversaw the construction project.