Warship to be made from Trade Center Steel

[CollegeBuff]

By JOEL STASHENKO
Associated Press Writer

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Steel salvaged from the wreckage of the World Trade Center was headed to a Mississippi shipyard Saturday for use in the USS New York, a warship named in honor of those who perished in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack.

It was the Navy's idea to incorporate the steel into the vessel, said Capt. Kevin Wensing, a Navy public affairs officer in Washington.

He said the steel was removed Friday from the New York landfill that holds much of the debris from the twin towers and was being shipped to the Northrop Grumman shipyard at Pascagoula, Miss., where construction of the warship is to begin next year.

The USS New York will be the fifth of 12 amphibious assault ships in the San Antonio class, which the Navy calls one of its most technologically innovative. The 684-foot vessel will carry a crew of 402 plus as many as 800 Marines.

If the trade center scrap meets specifications, it will be melted down and used to configure the leading edge of the ship's bow, said Northrop Grumman spokesman Jim McIngdale.

The $800 million vessel should be ready for active duty in 2007.

"We're very proud that the twisted steel from the WTC towers will soon be used to forge an even stronger national defense," New York Gov. George Pataki said.

Currently, only submarines are given state names, but state officials lobbied Navy Secretary Gordon England to make an exception.

The structural steel, primarily from a section of beam about 20 feet long and weighing 20 to 30 tons, was part of the wreckage taken across New York Harbor to the Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island after the Sept. 11 attack. It is believed to have been part of the south tower, the second of the twin skyscrapers hit by airliners hijacked by terrorists but the first to collapse.

Nearly 2,800 people died in the attack on the World Trade Center.

Most of the structural steel from the towers has already been sold for scrap.

Other Navy ships have been named USS New York or USS New York City. The most recent USS New York was a battleship, commissioned in 1914, that fought in both the Atlantic and Pacific during World War II.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

The USS New York will be a fitting memorial to those who made the sacrifice on 9/11/01.

[Medic129]

I can't think of any better way to memorialize the victims than to let them be a part of kicking the sh*t out of the cowards that harmed them. Even though they can't be there themselves, at least a part of them will be.

[CJMinick390]

Amen to that!

[Bones42]

I can't think of any better way to memorialize the victims than to let them be a part of kicking the sh*t out of the cowards that harmed them.

Then why not put the metal into something that can be used sooner? Why have it in something that won't even be ready for use (wherever it may get used) for 4+ years? A fitting tribute?...Too late.

just my opinion.

[CJMinick390]

I see your point, Bones. Unfortunately, I think there will be ample oppurtunities for this ship to fight our enemies four years from now.

[ThNozzleman]

How about making a few missles out of the metal?

[radioguy]

There is talk of every Campaign medal given out for the current conflict being struck from WTC steel. It would only take one or two beams to make them all.

[firefighter26]

A very fitting use.

I heard a rumour a while back that I had forgot about until I read this.

Basically it was that FEMA (I think it was FEMA, could have been another of the larger FF organizations) had planned to have plaques made with a small piece of the World Trade Center in the centre, also including all of the firefighter’s names and units that lost their lives saving others. Nothing overly large or tacky, but respectable. And that enough of these plaques would be made that one could be displayed at every department. I mean, EVERY department; be they New York, Miami, Dallas, San Jose, or Maplewood VFD. At the time I thought it would be an excellent tribute (I still do), but when I thought about the magnitude of the undertaking I realized it was probably just that, a rumour. However, could you image a better way to forever remember those that gave all that they had on the 11th of September?

Although, I will admit having a USS New York over seas bringing those responsible to justice is also a very fitting tribute.