SHIP, SHIP HOORAY
FNQ welcomes USS Green Bay and $700,000 cash splash
THE Far North will be invaded by 1200 US Navy marines and sailors on five days of shore leave today. The US Defence personnel on the USS Green Bay amphibious ship (below) are expected to have the region’s cash register tills ringing to the tune of more than $700,000 as they take a rest and recreational break from exercises in the Philippine Sea. Their welcome arrival is the first by the US Navy in four years. The last ships to dock at Cairns were the USS Germantown and USS Blue Ridge in July and August, 2013.
NEARLY 1200 US marines and sailors arrive in Cairns this morning on one of the American navy’s most advanced warships, the USS Green Bay.
They will spend six days on a rest and relaxation break and splash at least $700,000 on shopping, wining, dining, tours and other activities as they unwind after exercises in the Philippine Sea.
The ship, making its first visit to Cairns, is expected to dock at 8am today and depart on Monday.
It is also the first time a new San Antonio class amphibious ship has visited Cairns, although it has been to Darwin, the last time in 2015.
Ports North chairman Russell Beer said the arrival of USS Green Bay would be “quite a spectacle”.
“The port has hosted the older, smaller Whidbey Island class amphibious dock ships a number of times before, so it will be exciting to see how the new class of ship shapes up,” he said.
The USS Germantown and USS Blue Ridge were the last US Navy visitors in 2013 with nearly 2000 crew members.
“It’s good to see the return of the US Navy and Cairns is the ideal location to take time out and really enjoy Tropical Far North Queensland and all it has to offer,” he said.
According to the USS Green Bay website, the last posting about the ship involved exercises in the Philippine Sea with USS Bonhomme Richard and USS Ashland on June 11 and 12 after leaving Sasebo, Japan on June 2.
“The amphibious ships are on a deployment in the IndoAsia-Pacific region to enhance partnerships and be a readyresponse force for any type of contingency,” it said.