Marines’ R&R to bring $2m a day to WA
More than 3000 US Navy personnel are expected to inject millions of dollars into the local economy after arriving in Fremantle yesterday.
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3rd May 2008, 8:00 WST
USS Tarawa docked about 9am for a routine break from duties ahead of its return home to San Diego.
A visit by a US Navy ship such as USS Tarawa injects more than $2 million a day into the local economy, figures from the US Consulate-General’s office in Perth show.
US Navy 7th Fleet WA representative Lt-Cdr Philippe Francois said Perth was one of many R&R stops around the world used by US Navy ships.
He expected the crew to spend $1 million on tourism alone during the visit, with planned activities including trips to Margaret River and
Rottnest Island, games of golf and diving tours.
“An average sailor will probably spend $300 a day minimum and that includes all activities — knick-knacks, trinkets, food and a hotel,” he
said. “We have a significant number of the crew staying in local hotels and of course they’ll be using all the eateries and restaurants.”
It is the first Perth visit by the US Navy since October when another amphibious assault ship — USS Bonhomme Richard — docked.
USS Tarawa is the leading ship in its class at 250m and has rolling airframe missile launchers, close-in weapons systems and machineguns.
It was recently on maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf and supported war operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It also gave humanitarian relief in Bangladesh after cyclone Sidr.
Lt-Cdr Francois did not confirm how long it would stay for “security reasons”.
“We got a warm reception from the locals who were standing and photographing on the pier,” he said.