Navy ship to visit Rockland for festival

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Navy has committed to sending the USS Whidbey Island (LSD-41) to pay a port visit to Rockland during the 61st Maine Lobster Festival to be held July 30-Aug. 4.

U.S. Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins, R-Maine, said in a joint press release that, “We are pleased that the Navy has agreed to honor our state with this port visit during the Maine Lobster Festival celebrations in Rockland. We are delighted that the Navy has committed to sending the USS Whidbey Island. This visit is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to honor the brave men and women of the U.S. Navy.”

The USS Whidbey Island is the lead ship of the Whidbey Island class of dock landing ships and was launched on June 10, 1983. The Whidbey Island’s home port is at the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Virginia and the ship has taken part in Operation Enduring Freedom.