District survey vessel slated to participate in annual Harborfest

Posted June 2, 2010
By Brittany Brown
Norfolk District Public Affairs

06/02/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk District's survey vessel ADAMS II is among the expansive fleet of tall ships, military vessels and tugs, character vessels, sleek power cruisers, sailing craft, and antique and classic wooden boats slated to participate in the 34th Annual Norfolk Harborfest this year from June 11-13, 2010.

Following tradition, the Harborfest Parade of Sail will salute thousands of onlookers around noon on Friday, June 11. While many onlookers will be stationed at vantage points along the Elizabeth River, the larger portion of the crowd is expected to be viewing from Town Point Park, where the vessels will dock. Visitors will be able to play "pirate for a day," climb aboard and tour authentic tall ships, look at the wares of local artists, and listen to live musical acts.

Harborfest began more than a quarter century ago when the Norwegian Tall Ship Christian Radich came to Norfolk, a waterfront community that had no city-owned property or docking facility. The ship was docked three blocks from Town Point at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 13,000 people crossed her gangway in just one and a half days. Over the next two years, City planners and leaders created berthing to accommodate more ships, and a waterfront public park was planned. Norfolk Harborfest was born.

Today, tall ships from all over the world frequently call on the city of Norfolk and nearly half-a-million visitors gather near the waterfront each year for this annual celebration of one of Hampton Roads' nautical heritage events.

"We were thrilled that Norfolk District was invited by Norfolk Festevents in March to have one of our vessels participate in Harborfest", said Billy Simmons, captain of the ADAMS II vessel.

"The ADAMS does a lot of work in the Hampton Roads harbor so it is a perfect fit," continued Simmons.

Norfolk District's ADAMS II vessel, equipped with state-of-the-art underwater surveying equipment, is used to survey water depths and locate obstructions that could potentially cause extensive damage to watercraft transiting federal navigation channels in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"This is a great opportunity for the public to see an important aspect of the district's navigation mission," said Eric Legaspi, chief of the district's navigation support and survey section.

During Harborfest, ADAMS II is scheduled to dock at the Otter Berth, where the Spirit of Norfolk cruise ship docks. Members of the public are invited to visit June 11 (Friday) from 2-6 p.m. and June 12-13 (Saturday and Sunday) from noon until 6 p.m.