George H.W. Bush Transits Strait of Hormuz

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS170323-10
Release Date: 3/23/2017 11:31:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mario Coto, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Public Affairs

ARABIAN SEA (NNS) -- Aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) completed its transit through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Arabian Sea March 21.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, and freedom of navigation is essential for all vessel movement in and out of the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

GHWB's navigation team was in a modified navigation detail while transiting and maintained a heightened level of navigational readiness while in proximity to land and other shipping traffic also transiting through the Strait.

"I wouldn't say it's a dangerous evolution, but we were in an area where we needed to have an escalated posture of readiness," said Quartermaster 2nd Class Nicholas Delacruz. "It definitely was a complex area with a lot of traffic and little room to navigate, but we brought our 'A' game and made it through the strait without any issues."

In addition to normal shipping traffic to contend with, the Strait of Hormuz is a hostile area for Navy ships transiting through. Nations and rogue organizations hostile to the U.S. threaten naval vessels crossing the strait and disrupt shipping traffic. GHWB's security forces kept on the alert during the entire transit.

"The transit through the Strait of Hormuz went well," said Master Chief Master-At-Arms Robert Hewitt. "Whether it was the bridge team, lookouts, the combat information center team or the weapons crew, every Sailor knew what we had to get done and were on top of their game."

GHWB's intel department was on hand as an additional set of eyes for any contacts, hostile or not, that approach the ship.

"Today's transit unfolded without any incidents, which is always the results we want," said Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class Mark Boynton. "Although some hostile surface contacts came, nothing happened, and we managed to take good images that we will process and report on to the intelligence community and the warfare commanders of the strike group."