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USS Ronald Reagan Commissioned The Navy's newest and most sophisti- cated nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), was commissioned July 12, 2003 at the Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. Named after America's 40th president, Reagan is the ninth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier built by Northrop Grumman Newport News and the first carrier named for a living president. The keynote speaker for the commis- sioning ceremony was Vice President of the United States, Dick Cheney. Nancy Reagan also attended the ceremony and served as the ship's sponsor. The USS Ronald Reagan incorporates myriad of new technologies and innova- tions developed since the first Nimitz- class carrier, USS Nimitz (CVN 68), was delivered to the Navy in 1975. Among the changes are a completely redesigned island, a bulbous bow for improved hull efficiency, highly and integrated ship systems with increased capacity to support future upgrades and more facilities for women than on previ- ous ships of the class. The mammoth vessel towers 20 stories above the waterline, and at 1,092 ft. (332.8 m), is nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall. The ship Navy Exercises Option for Fourth TAKE Ship The U.S. Navy has exercised an option with National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSC0), announced to build a fourth ship for the T-AKE program, a new class of combat logistics force ships, at a contract value of $288 million. The company was awarded a $709 million contract in October 2001 for the design and construction of the first two ships in the T-AKE program. The Navy exercised its option for the third ship, to be built at a value of $290 million, in July 2002. The exercise of the fourth ship option brings the total value of the program to $1.3 billion. The T-AKEs will be 689 ft. (210 m) in length and 106 ft. (32.2 m) in beam, with a design draft of 30 ft. (9.1 m). The ships will carry almost 7,000 MT of dry cargo and ammunition and 23,500 barrels of marine diesel fuel. The T-AKEs will be the first modern Navy ships with an integrated electric- drive propulsion system, and have been designed to maximize cargo-handling efficiency and minimize the costs of operation and main- tenance over their expected 40-year life. Circle 74 on Reader Service Card August 2003 27 displaces approximately 95,000 tons. Reagan has a 4.5-acre flight deck, more than seven million ft. of cable, and when operational will house approximately 6,000 personnel and 80 aircraft onboard. Circle 53 on Reader Service Card USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) ship's sponsor and Former First Lady, Nancy Reagan as she orders the men and women of the USS Ronald Reagan to "bring the ship to life." Please send your inquiries to: Client & Agent Communication Department Phone: (599)9-733-0266/276 Telefax: (599)9-736-5580 E-mail: cac@cdmnv.com Website: www.cdmnv.com Circle 228 on Reader Service Card Cura9ao Drydock Company, Inc YARD Shiprepair • Conversion • Engineering PRS Portrepair • On-Voyage Services
