Aboard the USS Tortuga
The USS Tortuga overshadows a tug boat in Rockland Harbor. (All photos by Sarah Thompson)
The USS Tortuga overshadows a tug boat in Rockland Harbor. (All photos by Sarah Thompson)
ROCKLAND — The naval ship USS Tortuga anchored in Rockland Harbor during this week’s 68th annual Lobster Festival. On Thursday, Festival attendees interested in touring the vessel were ferried aboard.
In return, the City of Rockland welcomed the ship’s service members to the Festival.
The Tortuga is based out of Virginia, but travels up and down the east coast as an amphibious vessel shuttling Humvees and other cargo.
According to a crew member, the vessel is like a small city. Beds are provided for 500 marines and 400 sailors, though hallways are small, stairs are steep, and all doors are water tight. Everything a service member should require is available - dentist, fire department, ATM machines- but windows are scarce.
Some crew members “see the sun rise and set,” according to a tour guide in uniform. “Many people on board do not.”
The name Tortuga comes from the Dry Tortugas, discovered by Ponce De Leon in 1513, according to the U.S. Navy’s website about this vessel.
Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com.
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