Sailors on board the U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and the littoral combat ship USS Jackson (LCS 6) are scheduled to arrive in Portland tomorrow Thursday, June 8 for the annual Rose Festival Fleet Week.

The ships will cruise along the Willamette River and moor between the Steel and Burnside Bridges before 5:00 p.m.

Bunker Hill and Jackson, along with three U.S. Coast Guard vessels and two ships from the Royal Canadian Navy, will be in the city through June 12 offering public tours and participating in the annual festivities. The Royal Canadian ships and U.S. Coast Guard vessels will be open for public tours June 8-12 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. U.S. Navy ships will be open for public tours June 9 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm and June 10-11 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Waiting lines at entry points for public tours will close one hour prior to ship tour end times, so people are encouraged to arrive before 3:30 p.m. to ensure they are able to tour a ship.

The Portland visit offers the public an opportunity to take a tour of the ships and meet Sailors and Coast Guardsmen as they showcase the ships' capabilities. It also gives the public a chance to gain a better understanding of how the sea services support the national defense of the United States and freedom of the seas.

As part of the week's festivities, the U.S. Navy will also host an energy and environmental exhibit at Tom McCall Waterfront Park from June 9-11. The display will showcase the Navy's ocean protection, wildlife conservation and marine mammal research efforts, solar/wind energy projects, synthetic fuels testing, and other programs that help protect the environment and optimize energy use as we carry out our national security mission. Visitors can collect free posters, stickers, magnets, worksheets for kids, and other educational materials. Stewie, the Navy's environmental turtle mascot, will be onsite to entertain families and provide free "selfie" opportunities.

When arriving for public tours, all visitors will be required to present government-issued photo identification and pass through an airport-style security screening checkpoint prior to boarding the ships. All visitors are subject to search prior to entering the security zone. Visitors are encouraged to bring as few items as possible when arriving for their tour, and are recommended to wear flat-heeled, closed-toe shoes. No open-toe shoes will be permitted.

Prohibited items on board include the following:
- Weapons, including knives, firearms and club weapons
- Defensive chemicals or sprays, including mace and pepper spray; spray cans of any type
- Fireworks, flammable liquids or other explosives
- Illegal drugs and/or drug-related paraphernalia
- Large bags, including backpacks, diaper bags and large camera bags (small camera bags and small handbags may be permitted, but will be subject to search)
- Strollers

Media Opportunities
During the ships' visit to Portland, media are encouraged to contact Public Affairs Specialist Missy Anderson by telephone at (360) 340-2301 regarding access to the ship, to arrange interviews with Sailors or to request other related information. Please note that the ship docking process takes up to an hour after arrival.

All visitors and media require escort within the security perimeter at the pier and on board the ships at all times. Access to U.S. Navy ships must be arranged with Navy Public Affairs prior to arriving at the security checkpoint. Media should be prepared to present two forms of identification: one from their affiliation and one government-issued photo identification.


For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more information on Navy Region Northwest visit http://www.navy.mil/local/cnrnw.