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Navy renames ferry to USNS Guam
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Posted on May 10 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C.-One of two military sealift high-speed ferries that the U.S. Navy acquired for use in the Asia-Pacific region has been renamed USNS Guam.
Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo said yesterday that Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus personally informed her of the renaming.
The Navy bought the two private Hawaiian high-speed ferry vessels, Huakai and Alakai, from the Maritime Administration earlier this year. These acquisitions were authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2012. Both vessels will be used to transport military personnel and equipment to training areas from Okinawa and other locations in the Asia-Pacific region.
Bordallo has made numerous requests for a vessel to be named after Guam. Previous ships bearing Guam in its name include the Iwo Jima class amphibious assault ship (LPH-9), which was decommissioned in August 1998, and the Alaska-class cruiser (CB-2), which was decommissioned in February 1947.
“The U.S. Navy has been integral to the history of Guam and remains an important presence in our community,” said Bordallo. “I thank Secretary Mabus for his decision to rename this military transport high-speed ferry in honor of the Navy’s longstanding relationship with our island. The USNS Guam will help transport military personnel in the Asia-Pacific region and will likely be utilized to support operations in and around Guam in the coming years. .I am confident that this military transport high-speed ferry will be a critical asset to the readiness of our forces in the Asia-Pacific region.”
