PACIFIC OCEAN –
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) hosted 10 guests from various environmental agencies April 21 to share a day-in-the-life at sea and discuss the future of environmental protection and the Navy mission.
The visitors arrived on board the ship via a C-2 Greyhound aircraft and were greeted by the ship's commanding officer, air wing commander and command master chief before being whisked away to a full day of tours, discussion forums, a personal briefing with Carrier Strike Group 9 Commander, Rear Adm. Mark Guadagnini, and interaction with the ship's company.
During the visitors' stay, the ship not only demonstrated its capabilities as one of the mightiest warships on the seas, but also showed how far the Navy has come with their environmental programs.
One stop on the tour was the ship's trash compactor and waste disposal room, where ship's company removes recyclables from wet and dry trash.
"Our Sailors work very hard to ensure that all paper and plastics are separated and that no hazardous material is discharged overboard," said Lt. Bernardino Rodriguez, Lincoln's industrial hygiene officer and assistant safety officer. "We are able to compact 30 large plastic bags into one pizza-pie sized disc. These discs are maintained on board until we can properly recycle them in port."
Additional highlights of the tour included a briefing on the Navy's Protective Measures Assessment Protocol, marine mammal protective measures and appropriate hazardous material disposal.
The visitors left the ship on Earth Day, April 22, and will return to their home towns to share their recent experiences aboard the ship.
USS Abraham Lincoln is currently underway off the coast of southern California conducting tailored ship training assessments in preparation for a deployment later in 2010.