# World's biggest warship in Oslo **URL:** \ **Category:** Maritime News\ **Created:** [May 24, 2023, 9:20pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/worlds-biggest-warship-in-oslo/66203 "2023-05-24T21:20:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 9:20pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/worlds-biggest-warship-in-oslo/66203/1 "2023-05-24T21:20:34Z")
> **[World's biggest warship in Oslo](https://www.newsinenglish.no/2023/05/24/worlds-biggest-warship-in-oslo/)** > > Led by a Norwegian frigate and with hundreds of American sailors lining its decks, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford sailed up the Oslo Fjord on Wednesday for a symbolic visit now expected to last for at least four days. The nuclear-powered... She did not go alongside at Festningkskaia, where large cruise ships normally moor up, but anchored away from the city center: > **[MarineTraffic: Global Ship Tracking Intelligence | AIS Marine Traffic](https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:401127/zoom:12)** > > MarineTraffic Live Ships Map. Discover information and vessel positions for vessels around the world. Search the MarineTraffic ships database of more than 550000 active and decommissioned vessels. Search for popular ships globally. Find locations of... Don’t know if that is because of her size, daft, or because of the anticipated public reaction if a “nuclear powered monster” tied up in the middle of town. Sailing in the Oslofjord: [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/3/d/3d5ec0805741f58fb2f67bceb04046ca363077ef.jpeg "USS Gerald R. Ford passing Fagerstrand on route to Oslo 24.5 2023") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wj8Holj2bo) Some got too close for comfort: > **[Bryter hangarskip-restriksjonene: Flere båter har fått tilsnakk](https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/O8PWA1/trafikkaos-under-hangarskip-passering)** > > I iveren etter å komme tett på det amerikanske hangarskipet USS «Gerald R. Ford» har flere båtførere fått tilsnakk av politiet og Forsvaret. Sorry, in Norwegian only. ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 10:35am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/worlds-biggest-warship-in-oslo/66203/2 "2023-05-25T10:35:00Z")
> **[U.S. carrier strike group makes ready for Arctic Circle mission](https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2023/05/us-carrier-group-makes-ready-arctic-circle-mission)** > > The world’s largest aircraft carrier will after a short visit to Oslo sail north simultaneously as Europe’s largest fighter jet drill kicks off in the skies above Norway, Sweden and Finland. > [@](#): > > “The crew looks forward to work by the Arctic Circle, this is something few of their navy friends ever had an opportunity to do. Visiting Oslo and experiencing the North Sea and the Arctic is a thing we look forward to,” says Rick Burges, Commanding Officer on board the “_USS Gerald R. Ford_ ” to Norwegian [TV 2](https://www.tv2.no/nyheter/innenriks/pentagon-lekkasjen-russland-bekymret-for-nato-tokt-i-nord/15758510/). They are lucky it is summer. They get to see the Midnight Sun. But those who were looking forward to see Northern Lights are plumb out of luck. ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 2:16pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/worlds-biggest-warship-in-oslo/66203/3 "2023-05-25T14:16:36Z")
Although it is not regarded as any danger to have a large nuclear powered ship visiting Oslo, precautions for any unforeseen accident have planned for months in advance of the arrival of USS Gerald R. Ford: > **[Har kriseplan: Slik følger norske myndigheter med på radioaktiviteten fra skipet](https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/bgW4O5/har-kriseplan-for-hangarskipet-uss-gerald-r-ford)** > > Hva vil skje om det begynner å lekke radioaktive stoffer fra det atomdrevne hangarskipet som ligger for anker i Oslo havn? > [@](#): > > _- Have you considered, for example, evacuation in the event of a radiation release?_ > > - Yes, we have started from an Australian scenario. They have many calls by nuclear-powered ships, and have good plans, and we have used their scenarios for emissions and linked it with our own meteorological data to see how far and in which direction any emissions extend, she says. In the scenario considered the vessel is assumed moored at Festningkaia (near Aker Brygge): > [@](#): > > ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/f/3/f3b3677681b0cb3bb0fc599476c10045fd25ff64.jpeg) > CRISIS PLAN: DSA has drawn up a plan for the evacuation of people in the Oslo area in connection with a possible radioactive release from the USS Gerald R. Ford. Note: The evacuation area drawn on the map is from when they thought the ship would lie right at Aker brygge - but the ship is further out into the fjord. Photo: DSA When USS Iwo Jima visited Oslo in 2018 she was moored at Festningskaia in downtown Oslo: [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/7/a/7aea12b7e12afdd2f4f45d27f82b6aca91ac9267.jpeg "USS Iwo Jima i Oslo") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vhSPxxz1PQ) ---
**Author:** ![Hartley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/hartley/32/7603_2.png) [@Hartley](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hartley)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 4:23pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/worlds-biggest-warship-in-oslo/66203/4 "2023-05-25T16:23:30Z")
Well, there wasn’t a war going on in Europe in 2018. ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 7:22pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/worlds-biggest-warship-in-oslo/66203/5 "2023-05-25T19:22:34Z")
No there wasn’t. The USS Iwo Jima is not nuclear powered. Maybe that has something to do with it?? ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 2:16pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/worlds-biggest-warship-in-oslo/66203/6 "2023-05-29T14:16:49Z")
The USS Gerald R. Ford has left Oslo and heading out the Oslofjord: > **[Følg ferden: Her forlater hangarskipet Oslofjorden](https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/zEXyvw/foelg-ferden-her-forlater-hangarskipet-oslofjorden)** > > Mandag setter det amerikanske hangarskipet USS «Gerald R. Ford» kursen nordover. Said to be heading north to participate in a major exercise in Northern Norway: > [@](#): > > According to [NRK,](https://www.nrk.no/nordland/her-skal-det-amerikanske-hangarskipet-ove-med-norske-jagerfly-1.16422813) the US Navy’s largest and newest vessel will participate in the Arctic Challenge Exercise in the Vesterålen area. > **[Arctic Challenge Exercise 2023: 150 Aircraft Will Train In the High North](https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/arctic-challenge-exercise-2023-150-aircraft-will-train-high-north)** > > At the end of May, the large-scale fighter jet exercise Arctic Challenge Exercise will begin across Norway, Finland, and Sweden. The main activity will take place in the High North – and will include the first major F-35 exercise in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![DamnYankee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/damnyankee/32/514_2.png) [@DamnYankee](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DamnYankee)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 3:32pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/worlds-biggest-warship-in-oslo/66203/7 "2023-05-29T15:32:09Z")
Back in the day, when the U.S. still had a couple diesel carriers operational like the America and the Kennedy, those were the carriers allowed to anchor in New York harbor for Fleet Week. As I recall, none of the Nimitz class carriers were able to participate. I could be completely wrong on this though. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Seadog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/67e7ee/32.png) [@Chief\_Seadog](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Chief_Seadog)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 4:35pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/worlds-biggest-warship-in-oslo/66203/8 "2023-05-29T16:35:28Z")
Those were conventional steam turbine powered. ---
**Author:** ![squidly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@squidly](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/squidly)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2023, 4:17pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/worlds-biggest-warship-in-oslo/66203/9 "2023-05-31T16:17:16Z")
FORD probably moored out because the shore power was insufficient for the ship. There’s only one pier at Norfolk navy base she can use. It would surprise me if the Norway ports had compatible shore power. Since shore power was not an option, she had the reactors up to power the ship. When reactors are critical, Navy nuke ships limit their time pier side. ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/worlds-biggest-warship-in-oslo/66203/10 "2023-05-31T20:21:51Z")
I don’t know what the power requirement are for the USS Gerald R. Ford while idle in port. Do they normally shut down the reactors when in port, even when on short visits in foreign ports? Oslo Port does have shore connection facilities for container ships and ferries etc.: > **[Port of Oslo encourages shift to shore power](https://www.oslohavn.no/en/news/port-of-oslo-encourages-shift-to-shore-power/)** > > Port of Oslo urges shipping companies to take advantage of shore power facilities in the Oslofjord and join the green shift. > [@](#): > > Port of Oslo wants to advance the green shift by helping shipping companies convert their vessels to shore power. There are already around two hundred shore power facilities in Norway, and ports in Norway are adding more with financial support from Enova. Unfortunately, container ships are not using them, says Heidi Neilson, Head of Planning and Environment at Port of Oslo. They have signed a contract for installation of equipment to supply shore power to large cruise ships by 2024: > **[Zinus Wins Contract to Supply Shore Power to Oslo](https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/05/zinus-wins-contract-to-supply-shore-power-to-oslo/)** > > Zinus has won a contract with PowerCon to supply the Port of Oslo with its state-of-the-art CRU500 shore power solution, according to a statement. The object PS\> Grid power in Norway are from renewable sources (hydro and wind). No gas, fuel or coal power stations. (Except at Longyearbyen on Svalbard) ---
**Author:** ![squidly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@squidly](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/squidly)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2023, 8:45pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/worlds-biggest-warship-in-oslo/66203/11 "2023-05-31T20:45:44Z")
FORD has 13.8KV electric plant, compared to the 4160 V NIMITZ plant. I don’t know what cruise ships have. When I was on TRUMAN, we rarely tied to a foreign pier. We didn’t always tie to pier in the US. At Key West we were ~5 miles out, while cruise ships pulled in. I’m not sure if it was the draft or the power plant, possibly both. AFAIK, the only places FORD can connect shore power is NOB Norfolk and Newport News Shipbuilding. For 3 or 4 days, we’d shut down. Many times a CVN will go out for 2 weeks, come in for 24-36 hours and go back out for 2 weeks. Allows for change out contractors, test personnel, etc. Plus the Navy doesn’t have shell out the Lack of Nookie pay. I can’t remember if we shut down on short inports or not. It’s been a long time. Shut downs are no big deal. Start-ups can be a PITA. ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2023, 9:02pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/worlds-biggest-warship-in-oslo/66203/12 "2023-05-31T21:02:44Z")
The USS Gerald R. Ford has been observed heading north in the North Sea, (without AIS signals being transmitted): > **[Amerikansk hangarskip utenfor Bergen](https://www.nrk.no/vestland/amerikansk-hangarskip-utenfor-bergen-1.16426981)** > > Det var ved 16.30-tiden tirsdag ettermiddag at det amerikanske hangarskipet USS «Gerald R. Ford» var vest for Sotra rett utenfor Bergen, dette ifølge sist kjente lokasjon for ett av følgefartøyene. Utenfor Måløy ligger den amerikanske marinens... She is anticipated to proceed to an aera of Lofoten and Vesterålen for an exercise with Norwegian Finnish and Swedish forces. The supply ship USNS Joshua Humphreys has been idling off the NW coast of Norway for over a day now (with AIS active): ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/0/f/0f2edfe7fb9986aad667046d00ce893d45f67064.jpeg) > **[MarineTraffic: Global Ship Tracking Intelligence | AIS Marine Traffic](https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:3.4/centery:61.6/zoom:8)** > > MarineTraffic Live Ships Map. Discover information and vessel positions for vessels around the world. Search the MarineTraffic ships database of more than 550000 active and decommissioned vessels. Search for popular ships globally. Find locations of... ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/worlds-biggest-warship-in-oslo/66203/13 "2023-06-04T20:01:06Z")
> **[Carrier USS Ford is now operating inside the Arctic Circle](https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2023/06/carrier-uss-ford-now-operating-inside-arctic-circle)** > > Sailing the waters around Lofoten archipelago in Northern Norway, the authority of the strike group was this weekend transferred from US Navy to NATO. > [@](#): > > A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) warning is issued for the area in Vestfjorden where the carrier strike group is operating. The NOTAM is valid until late evening June 7. > > ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/c/9/c9af590d4c8342159a3e325a8986e0c9feb6b3e4.png) > _No-fly-zone for civilian aircraft (marked red) in the Vestfjorden between Bodø and the Lofoten islands. Illustration from [Notammap.net](http://Notammap.net), Google Earth / Barents Observer_ ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 4:36pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/worlds-biggest-warship-in-oslo/66203/14 "2023-06-07T16:36:05Z")
Don’t worry, she is well protected: > **[NATO scrambled to meet Russian bombers, interceptor aircraft north of carrier...](https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2023/06/nato-scrambled-meet-russian-bombers-interceptor-aircraft-north-carrier-strike-group)** > > The Russian sortie with at least nine aircraft flew to the western Barents Sea, but returned home instead of continuing south towards the areas where the "USS Gerald R. Ford" is operating.