|
Contact: Eileen Martinez Contact: Grace Hew Len, 808-473-2926 Naval Station Pearl Harbor and the National Park Service will officially activate the new USS Arizona Memorial Ferry Boat #39-1 John W. Finn during a ceremony Tuesday, April 7 at 2:00 p.m. at the USS Arizona Memorial and visitor center. Senator Daniel K. Inouye, who sponsored the new boats, is scheduled to speak at the ceremony. Ferry Boat #39-1 is the first of five new boats that will eventually replace the existing 20-year-old U.S. Navy-operated tour boats that shuttle visitors to and from the USS Arizona Memorial. The boats were acquired through a Federal Transit Administration grant and State of Hawai'i matching funds, which required procurement of boats that demonstrate clean fuel technology. The environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art boats incorporate Tier-2 diesel engines and a blend of off-the-shelf clean-fuel propulsion technologies (biodiesel fuel, diesel oxidation and fuel borne catalysts) to reduce emissions. The five boats are named in honor of five Medal of Honor recipients from the Pearl Harbor attack, with the first boat named John W. Finn. Finn was a Chief Aviation Ordnanceman stationed at Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, and is the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient. In addition to Senator Inouye, the speakers will include Captain Richard Kitchens, Commanding Officer, Naval Station Pearl Harbor; Mr. Paul DePrey, Superintendent, World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument; and Mr. Frank McCarthey, Program Executive Office for Ships. A Hawai'ian blessing will be conducted by Kahu Kauila Clark, followed by the untying of the maile lei, and will close with a short ceremonial ride on the harbor aboard Ferry Boat #39-1 John W. Finn. |
Last updated: March 1, 2015