POUGHKEEPSIE – The USS Marinette, a Freedom-Class Littoral Combat Ship, docked at the Port of Albany for part of the national REV250 celebration and set sail today, heading south on the Hudson River toward the open sea. The vessel was escorted by marine units from the Dutchess and Ulster County Sheriff’s Offices.
With pleasant weather, the shores along the Hudson welcomed hundreds of spectators along the route to catch a glimpse of a modern-day combat ship.
The escorts were present to keep other boats a safe distance from the combat ship. No vessels are allowed within 100 feet of Navy ships, and non-military vessels within 500 yards are required to travel at minimum speeds. Additionally, the FAA prohibits the use of drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles within 3,000 feet over Navy ships and within 1,000 feet laterally of Navy ships.
The ship, with four engines capable of speeds reaching 47 knots, carries a crew of up to 80, two Seahawk helicopters, two smaller boarding vessels, and heavy artillery, including a bow-mounted gun that fires different types of rounds against different threats at 220 rounds per minute. The speed of today’s journey was approximately 12 knots to avoid creating a wake that would damage docked boats along the shorelines.
The USS Marinette is based at Naval Port Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida.
The fast, agile, and modular warship is designed for multi-mission surface warfare and mine countermeasures in shallow coastal environments. It was commissioned in 2023 and has yet to be deployed; it is currently used to intercept suspected drug traffickers who are then turned over to the Coast Guard.
This is the first time a major active-duty Navy ship has visited the Port of Albany in more than 30 years, since the guided-missile frigate USS Capodanno docked there in July 1993.
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