USS New Orleans Underway from Bahrain

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- The amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) returned to sea the evening of May 12, fully mission capable after completing repairs at the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY) Shipyard dry dock in Manama, Bahrain.

While underway in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility, New Orleans is scheduled to conduct maritime security operations. The ship was damaged in a collision with USS Hartford (SSN 768) March 20 in the Strait of Hormuz.

At the ASRY Shipyard, dry dock repairs were made to the ship's damaged hull, ruptured fuel tank and ballast tanks.

Although New Orleans was repaired in Bahrain, U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command engineers determined that Hartford will be repaired in the United States. The submarine completed sea trials April 24 and is making a surface transit back to its homeport of Groton, Conn.

Two formal investigations have been completed -- a safety investigation and a Judge Advocate General Manual (JAGMAN) Investigation. Both are currently undergoing endorsement reviews, which are expected to take several months to complete.