• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Mesa Verde Completes Successful Sea Trials

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070825-14
Release Date: 8/25/2007 8:28:00 PM

By Lt. j.g. Laura Le, Pre-Commissioning Unit Mesa Verde Public Affairs

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (NNS) -- Pre-commissioning Unit (PCU) Mesa Verde (LPD 19) successfully completed Builder's Sea Trials Aug. 13-16.

Mesa Verde's initial sea trial gave the builders a chance to test the ship's main propulsion, communication, steering, navigation, radar and other systems. It also provided an opportunity to conduct various exercises such as anchor handling, flight operations and ballasting/deballasting, all of which will be essential to Mesa Verde's mission. The trial was an opportunity for 101 crew members to ride the ship for the first time as well.

"Getting the ship underway for the first time was an exciting and emotional experience," said Lt. Michael Quarg, Mesa Verde's auxiliary officer. "I went on the builder's trials for USS New Orleans (LPD-18), but I was just a rider. This time, knowing that this ship belongs to this crew, just gave me a feeling of accomplishment for all the hard work we've been doing."

While on board, crew members had the opportunity to assist with the operations of systems and stand watches, using deckplate training learned at the PCU.

"I am very pleased with the results of our Builder's Sea Trials," said Cmdr. Shawn Lobree, Mesa Verde's commanding officer. "It took a lot of teamwork to get the ship to Sea Trials: Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, the Program Manager's (PMS-317) staff, and of course ship's force all showed tremendous team spirit to get us to this point. Mesa Verde is a stout ship with a very hearty crew; we are ready to go."

PCU Mesa Verde is the third of the San Antonio-class landing platform dock ship being constructed on the Gulf Coast. Mesa Verde is named for the Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado, which is world-famous for its archaeological and anthropological sites representing over a thousand years of native American culture.