MARINETTE, Wis. — Nathan Winling wasn’t taking any chances. The 4-year-old came to the christening of the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul wearing rubber boots.
“I want to see the big splash,” Nathan said.
Nathan’s feet remained dry, but the sideways-launch Saturday of the littoral combat ship was nonetheless dramatic.
As Nathan would say, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul made a big splash.
Built at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul will join ten nearly identical ships already on the water, with five more to come from the same Wisconsin shipyard.
Swift and nimble, the ships are designed with room for helicopters, drones and crew of up to 98 sailors.
Allyssa Downey from Pike, New York is among the first Navy crew members assigned to the Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Though she’s never visited the cities for whom her future ship is named, Downey said after Saturday’s christening, “I already feel welcome.”
The first sailors to serve on a new ship are given the title “plankowners.” Senior Chief Michael Patrick from Indiana will also be a plank owner on the Minneapolis-St. Paul.
“You’re always part of that group, you’re always part of the ship itself,” Patrick said after the christening.
Northfield native Jodi Greene, the Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy for Policy and the ship’s sponsor, broke the ceremonial bottle as the ship was launched.
“I know the people of the Twin Cities will welcome and encourage the crew whenever they have the opportunity to visit her namesake city,” Greene said in remarks before the christening.