BATH, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- The latest U.S. Navy ship built by Bath Iron Works headed to sea today, and was given a special local sendoff along the way.
The U.S.S. Spruance sailed from the BIW dock at high tide, just before 2:45 PM. About a half-mile downriver, the Maine Maritime Museum had organized a special public ceremony to cheer the Spruance on her way. It was the first time the Museum had held such a ceremony, and organizers said it was a chance to let local people get one last look at the ship that has been under construction for more than two years. Several museum leaders said they hope this can become a regular event for future BIW "sail aways".
The Spruance is the 33rd Arleigh Burke class destroyer to sail from BIW, and is the next to the last of that series the yard will build. The final ship, the U.S.S. Michael Murphy, is in the water now and will sail away in approximately a year. The new Zumwalt-class destroyers that will follow the Murphy are already under construction. However, the Navy is only building three of those ultra-modern style ships. After that, the plan is to build several more of the older style ships, similar to the Spruance. BIW is hoping to secure contracts for several of those ships, and is expecting word from the Navy this fall.
NEWS CENTER