7 US Carrier Battle groups head to sea!

[Mech]

A major exercise soon to be underway will have a large part of the Navy fleet deploying out of Norfolk.


www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=1902088


WAVY News 10 has learned the Navy is sending seven carrier strike groups out to sea.

The exercise is designed to test the Navy's new rapid deployment readiness.

Several Norfolk-based carrier strike groups will participate. The USS George Washington is already deployed. Two others, the USS Enterprise and USS Harry S Truman will leave soon.

Other carriers involved in the exercise include the USS John F. Kennedy, the USS John S. Stennis, and the USS Ronald Reagan - which left Norfolk on Thursday.

While the Navy won't say where the seven carrier groups are going, the carriers not already deployed are expected to be gone for only one to two months.

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HUGE RED FLAG FOLKS!!!!

[AtomHeartMother]

Could this be related? [/color]

Navigation skills to be tested
June 11,2004
JANNETTE PIPPIN
DAILY NEWS STAFF

FORT MACON - Boaters who normally rely on Global Positioning System equipment for navigation will need to brush up on alternatives to use while traveling North Carolina waters over the next 10 days.

GPS interference testing, conducted during a military exercise by the Department of Defense, will make the signal unreliable and may affect cell phone signals from about 50 to 60 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras as well as some waters off Florida, the U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday.

The disruptions will occur during scheduled times today through June 20. The interruptions along the North Carolina coast will affect Albemarle Sound, Pamlico Sound and the coastal area from Currituck Beach Light to Cape Lookout as well as North Carolina's Intracoastal Waterway.

Due to the disruptions, the Coast Guard is urging all boaters to be prepared for times when GPS may not work or may not be accurate.

"Everyone needs to study their charts and make sure they have alternative navigation plans in place," said Lt. j.g. Ron Owens of the Fort Macon Coast Guard station.

Mariners are also reminded that VHF radio is best for communication on the water. Cell phone signals may also be interrupted during this training, but even during normal conditions they should only be relied on as backup communications, the Coast Guard said.

Personnel from Group Fort Macon are working to spread the word about the GPS interference to local and visiting boaters, including the estimated 200 boats coming to Morehead City next week for the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament.

Owens said tournament officials have been notified, and Coast Guard representatives will be on hand at the captain's meeting to provide information to the entrants. While the disruptions could affect two of the tournament's fishing days, Owens said the Big Rock's captains typically are experienced navigators.

"They are not going to have a bunch of amateurs in the tournament. They are professionals, and the Big Rock does a good job of educating its captains," he said.

Owens said there is greater concern for the boaters who may not know the local waters but will be in the area for a weekend visit or summer trip.

That's why the Coast Guard is working to reach as many mariners as possible and remind them to have alternate navigation plans and follow basic safety tips.

Owens said all boaters should wear life jackets and have proper safety equipment and provisions such as food, water and a first-aid kit. Boaters should also file a float plan with the marina they use or with family members.


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