Photo: Port of Vancouver
The Port of Vancouver USA welcomed the USNS Fisher, a vessel with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) on December 12 for a stay of approximately nine months, as the temporary home port for the 951-foot long vessel. The ship will be docked at the port’s berths 13 and 14 and will offer an impressive sight to river users and those able to view it from the Oregon side of the Columbia River.
Similar to the USNS Brittin which stayed at port earlier this year, the USNS Fisher is a large medium-speed roll-on/roll-off vehicle cargo ship, ideal for the rapid loading and off-loading of Army wheeled and tracked vehicles, as well as other outsized Army equipment. MSC operates approximately 125 civilian-crewed ships, like the USNS Fisher, that replenish U.S. Navy ships. Some of the activities conducted by the command includes specialized missions, strategic pre-positioning combat cargo at sea and moving military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.
“For the Port of Vancouver to host the USNS Fisher for an extended period of time is an honor and shows the aptitude of the port and the capabilities of the Columbia River,” said Alex Strogen, Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Vancouver USA. “With a 43-foot shipping channel and the infrastructure capable of safely mooring the vessel, supplying necessary utilities and the low-cost of electricity in this area, the Port of Vancouver USA is a dynamic establishment that builds upon the Columbia River’s international maritime hub.”
Christened in 1997, the ship was named for Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher who were major philanthropists and supporters for the men and women in the United States Armed Forces and their families. Mr. Fisher utilized his real estate and building skills to assist the U.S. Coastal Service in the construction of coastal fortifications which began a lifelong patronage of U.S. Armed Forces. Over the course of Mr. Fisher’s life, he supported a vast array of charitable organizations throughout the United States and helped established numerous foundations, including the Fisher House Foundation and Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation. He received several of the highest awards that a civilian can receive from each branch of the military, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton. To learn more about Mr. Fisher’s legacy, visit https://fisherhouse.org/.
The USNS Fisher is expected to remain docked at the port for the next nine months.
Source: Port of Vancouver