Results by Google
Home Seattle News 

Story

LIVESTREAM: Watch a live broadcast of KIRO 7 Eyewitness News at Noon on the Web. Full Story ››

Work Begins On USS Somerset

New Navy Warship Will Honor Victims of United Flight 93

Posted: 11:20 am PDT August 7, 2008Updated: 1:26 pm PDT August 7, 2008

Navy contractors have begun construction of the new USS Somerset, a ship named after the site of crash of United Flight 93. The ship is the third of three navy vessels to honor Sept. 11th victims. It includes a special piece taken from the site of the crash. VIDEO: Scott MacFarlane Reports - USS Somerset

Crews melted 16 tons of steel from an old mining crane, which sat on the Shanksville, Pa., land. They're using the steel to construct the "stem bar" of the new ship. EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Watch the Pouring of the "Flight 93" Metal

The USS Somerset will be officially commissioned in 2012. It'll span 684 feet in length and hold hundreds of sailors. Northrop Grumman, a navy shipbuilding contractor, will complete the construction in New Orleans.

Wayne Davis, Northrop Grumman's project manager, said the ship will serve as both a warship and a humanitarian ship. In the event of a natural disaster, the USS Somerset could be deployed to transport emergency supplies. VIDEO: USS Somerset Project Manager Talks About The Ship


Facts About the USS Somerset


Length: 684 feet
Beam: 105 feet
Speed: 22 knots (24 mph)
Aircraft: 4 CH-46 Sea Knight Helicopters or 2 MV-22 Osprey
Crew: 360 sailors (28 officers, 332 enlisted) and 3 marines
Troops: 699 (66 officers, 633 enlisted)
Cost: Approximately $1 billion

Somerset County, Pa., officials attended the ceremonial beginning of construction. VIDEO: Somerset County, PA., Commissioner John Vatavuk Talks About USS Somerset

SeattleInsider

Funny faces, funny shirts, funny hair; check out these hilarious mug shots. Full Story ››