• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Byrd Makes Debut Visit to Guam

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080815-23
Release Date: 8/15/2008 4:11:00 PM

By Jesse Leon Guerrero, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas Public Affairs

SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- The Navy welcomed USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) into Apra Harbor July 31, marking her first official visit to the island since launching from her shipyard at San Diego in May 2007.

The 689-foot Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship replaces USNS Niagara Falls (T-AFS 3), which is scheduled for decommissioning later this year.

She is both longer and wider than Niagara Falls, giving her significantly more storage space.

"We will be able to resupply the ships at sea with our increased capacity, moving larger cargo in shorter time," said Capt. Robert Jaeger, the ship's master.

Byrd can accommodate more than 930,000 cubic feet of dry cargo, nearly doubling Niagara Falls' 470,000 cubic feet.

Additionally, she can store more than 245,000 cubic feet of chilled/frozen cargo, compared to Niagara Falls' 128,000 cubic feet.

Jaeger explained it isn't just Byrd's increased capacity that makes storing more possible, but also the advanced system of transfer lines and onboard helicopter support.

While on Guam, Byrd's 130-man mixed crew of civilian and Navy members moved food and beverages and inert ammunition.

"So far it's all going very well," said Jaeger. "The support here at the base has been outstanding."

Jaeger said the visit wasn't just an introduction of a new class of high commodity vessel to the Pacific region, but also an important opportunity to test its capabilities.

Byrd's visit comes less than a month after the large, medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Brittin (T-AKR 305) made her own historic stop in Guam July 16, proving that both types of advanced ships can be valuable resources within U.S. Naval Forces Marianas' area of responsibility.

"This ship is designed not only for future strategic planning, but also sea basing — the ability to help sustain large expeditionary forces," said Jaeger, referring to Byrd's ability to support increased military buildup on island.

"We're excited at having this new ship and learning all that it's capable of doing."

For more news from U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas, visit www.navy.mil/local/guam/.