Hobart's ship comes in
HOBART is preparing to cash in on the economic bonanza of a visiting US Navy ship with 3000 crew.
A US Government official last night confirmed the lead ship of the US Navy's first-class amphibious assault fleet USS Tarawa would arrive this weekend.
http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,23659194-3462,00.html
ANGUS HOHENBOKEN
May 08, 2008 12:00am
The warship is not nuclear powered but is likely to carry depleted nuclear weapons.
News of the visit has sent local businesses scurrying to cater for the ship.
A fruit and vegetable wholesale supplier, who asked not to be named, said his business was stockpiling for a massive order of fresh produce for the crew.
"The ship's business is fantastic as you can imagine with those sort of quantities," he said.
"It's an extremely big order including 900kg of rock melon, 490kg of pears and apples and 500kg of lettuce."
The ship required about 10 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegies.
Salamanca Inn receptionist Abbey Rogers said the hotel had booked eight rooms for US sailors on Saturday and Sunday, but they usually received more once naval ships arrived.
"We're predicting there may be a few more, but we're trying to limit it to what we've got booked because they can be a bit rowdy," she said.
Knopwoods Retreat licensee Kate Duffy said she would stock up and put on extra staff tomorrow and Saturday.
"I've ordered a few extra cartons of Budweiser, but we are hoping to push some Tasmanian products their way," he said.
"There won't be as many of them out as there used to be."
A US Government official said the ship would be in Hobart at the weekend for "a short visit".
The ship provided disaster relief and humanitarian assistance to Bangladesh after tropical cyclone Sidr and conducted operations in the Persian Gulf.
The 250m vessel carries 35 aircraft including AV-8B Harrier jets and Cobra, Hueys, Super Stallion and Sea Knight helicopters.
It docked in Fremantle on May 2, enroute from the US 5th Fleet area of operations, for a weekend stop-over. WA media reported only one incident, when some sailors got mugged ashore.
WA Greens senator elect Scott Ludlam, a former volunteer for Fremantle Anti-Nuclear Group, said there had been no major protests because they did not learn of the visit in time.
Mr Ludlam said it was not confirmed whether it carried depleted uranium weapons.
"It carries two mach 15 phalanx guns for shooting down incoming missiles," Mr Ludlam said.
"Most often the shells fired from these are depleted uranium. We generally assume the worst."
The Greens welcomed sailors but not the ship.
Federal Hotels spokesman Brendan Blomeley welcomed the ship.
"It's great to see naval vessels of this size visiting Hobart again," Mr Blomeley said.