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General Characteristics

Crew List

Memorabilia

About the Ship's Coat of Arms

Some Details

Accidents aboard the Ship

Port Royal History

Homeports of USS Port Royal

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USS Port Royal (CG 73)

USS PORT ROYAL was the last ship in the TICONDEROGA-class and the last cruiser in the Navy built in the 20^th century. She was the second commissioned U.S. Navy ship to bear the name PORT ROYAL, commemorating the battles fought at Port Royal, South Carolina, during the American Revolution and the Civil War. USS PORT ROYAL held a decommissioning ceremony at her homeport of Pearl Harbor, Hi., on September 29, 2022, and was officially decommissioned one day later.

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS PORT ROYAL. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

• Click here to view the list.

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• Click here to see which USS PORT ROYAL memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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About the Ship's Coat of Arms:

(Click on the seal for a larger version)

The Shield:

Dark blue and gold are the colors traditionally associated with the Navy. Red is emblematic of courage and sacrifice. Gold denotes excellence and high ideals; blue refers to the sea in which PORT ROYAL sails. The blue and gray of the shield recall the Union and Confederate forces and the first PORT ROYAL's Civil War service, while the embattled pile alludes to the forts on either side of Port Royal Sound. The trident represents an Aegis symbol of seapower and is enflamed to symbolize past and present weapons and defense. The tines of the trident represent an Aegis cruiser's capabilities: on the surface, the subsurface, and in the air. The upward thrust of the trident head highlights the vertical launch capabilities of CG 73.

The Crest:

The demi-palmetto tree, adapted from the State flag of South Carolina, alludes to the Port Royal Sound and the Carolina Sea Islands where the battles occured for which the ship is named. The sword and musket, crossed to express combined arms and joint service teamwork, signify the two PORT ROYALs. The musket recalls the Revolutionary War battles and when combined with the Civil War Naval sword symbolize a continuing heritage of devotion to country, duty and the defense of freedom. The stylized Aegis array emphasizes the industrial and naval team which resulted in the American technological achievement of the Aegis combat system, while the lightning flash represents the ship's strike capabilities.

The Motto:

An azure edged scroll inscribed "THE WILL TO WIN" in gold.

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Some Details:

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Accidents aboard USS PORT ROYAL:

Date	Where	Events
March 27, 2002	Arabian Sea	A member of the crew of PORT ROYAL fell overboard but could quickly be rescued by an SH-60 helicopter assigned to the "Eightballers" of HS-8 embarked aboard USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74).
February 5, 2009	off Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii	USS PORT ROYAL runs aground half a mile off Honolulu International Airport's reef runway and remains stuck for 4 days until a 9-ship armada including the Navy's salvage ship USNS SALVOR (T-ARS 52) is able to free the cruiser. The Navy undertook three major efforts to free the PORT ROYAL and achieved success after removing about 600 tons of seawater, anchors and other weight. During the investigation into the cause of the grounding the ship's commanding officer, Capt. John Carroll, was temporarily relieved by Rear Adm. Dixon R. Smith, commander of Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific. Smith temporarily assigned Capt. John T. Lauer III, of Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific staff, as commanding officer. The grounding occurred after a 4-month routine dry-dock and maintenance period at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard when the PORT ROYAL was transferring sailors, contractors and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard workers to shore, via small boat, during her first day of sea trials. No one was injured and no oil or other contaminants have leaked except for a light surface sheen of marine diesel which burns off quickly in sunlight. Damage caused to the PORT ROYAL included cracks in the 8-inch thick rubber sonar dome at the bow and sheared off propellers. The ship was towed back to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard on February 9 for further damage assessment and dry-docking.           After more than 7 months in dry-dock, the PORT ROYAL was moved pier side at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in late September 2009. There, the ship underwent several additional weeks of additional work and testing. The incident investigation revealed that at the time of the grounding, PORT ROYAL's navigation equipment was broken, the bridge crew was inexperienced and that the CO had barely slept in the days before the incident. However, the investigators were convinced that the crew should still have been able to prevent the grounding. The ship's commanding officer was relieved soon after the grounding and three officers and one sailor received non-judicial punishment.

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History of USS PORT ROYAL:

USS PORT ROYAL's construction began at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, with the start of fabrication work on November 9, 1990. Her keel was laid on October 18, 1991, and she was launched on November 20, 1992. The cruiser was christened on December 5, 1992, by her sponsor, Mrs. Susan G. Baker, wife of James A. Baker III, former U.S. Secretary of State and Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush.

On December 6, 1993, PORT ROYAL entered the Gulf of Mexico for her initial builder's sea trials. The trials evaluated the ship's propulsion, navigation, electrical, and combat systems before delivery to the Navy. Following further construction work and inspections, Ingalls Shipbuilding delivered the cruiser to the U.S. Navy on April 25, 1994. On July 9, 1994, PORT ROYAL was commissioned at Savannah, Georgia, with Capt. Nicholas L. Richards as her first commanding officer.

Following commissioning, PORT ROYAL joined the Pacific Fleet and established Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as her homeport. During the remainder of 1994 and much of 1995, the cruiser completed initial operational training, combat-system evaluations, engineering trials, and preparations for her first overseas deployment.

In late November 1995, PORT ROYAL began her maiden overseas deployment with the USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) Battle Group. The deployment took the group across the Pacific and Indian Oceans toward the Persian Gulf, where American naval forces continued to enforce restrictions on Iraqi military flights over southern Iraq under Operation Southern Watch. On January 21, 1996, Capt. Gary Roughead relieved Capt. Nicholas L. Richards as commanding officer. During the deployment, PORT ROYAL conducted air-defense, surface surveillance, and carrier escort operations with the USS NIMITZ Battle Group.

In March 1996, the battle group was redirected from the Persian Gulf toward the waters near Taiwan during the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis. The People's Republic of China had conducted ballistic missile tests and large-scale military exercises near Taiwan in the weeks preceding the island's first direct presidential election. The United States responded by deploying two aircraft carrier battle groups to the region. USS NIMITZ and her escorts, including PORT ROYAL, proceeded from the Indian Ocean toward the South China Sea and waters east of Taiwan. The American naval presence was intended to demonstrate continued U.S. military presence in the region during the crisis.

PORT ROYAL operated with the battle group during the period surrounding Taiwan's presidential election on March 23, 1996. Her responsibilities included air-defense coordination, maritime surveillance, and the protection of the aircraft carrier during flight operations. Following the conclusion of the Taiwan operations, the battle group continued its deployment before returning to the United States in May 1996. PORT ROYAL subsequently resumed maintenance and operational training at Pearl Harbor.

After her first deployment, PORT ROYAL became the first U.S. Navy cruiser to integrate women into her ship's company. The change formed part of the Navy's wider integration of women into the crews of combatant warships following changes to personnel assignment policies during the early 1990s.

During 1997, PORT ROYAL completed another period of training and deployment preparations before returning to the Western Pacific and Middle East with the USS NIMITZ Battle Group. The battle group departed on September 1, 1997, for a deployment that included operations in the Persian Gulf. American naval forces continued supporting Operation Southern Watch and the enforcement of United Nations sanctions against Iraq. PORT ROYAL provided air-defense coverage for the carrier battle group and conducted surface surveillance and maritime security operations. Her responsibilities included monitoring the airspace surrounding the naval formation, coordinating defensive operations, and supporting the identification and inspection of merchant vessels suspected of violating sanctions against Iraq.

The cruiser also participated in training with other American and coalition naval units in the region. These activities included air-defense exercises, communications training, and operational evaluations of the Aegis combat system. During the deployment, PORT ROYAL made a historic visit to Durban, South Africa. She was the first U.S. Navy warship to visit the port in more than 25 years. The visit attracted considerable public interest, and more than 10,000 people toured the cruiser. The deployment continued into early 1998. PORT ROYAL subsequently completed her assigned operations and returned to Pearl Harbor in March 1998.

During 1998, PORT ROYAL and USS LAKE ERIE (CG 70) were selected as the Navy's first two LINEBACKER test ships under the Navy Area Theater Ballistic Missile Defense Program. Both cruisers received modifications to their Aegis combat systems, including developmental radar-processing software, additional computing capabilities, and equipment intended to support the detection and tracking of theater ballistic missiles. The LINEBACKER program was associated with the development of the Standard Missile-2 Block IVA interceptor, which was intended to provide a capability against short- and medium-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase of flight. The missile remained in development and did not enter regular operational service.

During the autumn of 1998, PORT ROYAL participated in LINEBACKER sea trials at the Pacific Missile Range Facility near Kauai, Hawaii. The tests examined the modified Aegis system's ability to detect and track ballistic missile targets and to support simulated engagements. The trials included evaluations of radar performance, target tracking, combat-system processing, and the exchange of tactical information. PORT ROYAL also supported the development of procedures and training methods for future ballistic missile defense operations. The Navy subsequently continued developing sea-based ballistic missile defense systems, although the Navy Area Theater Ballistic Missile Defense Program was terminated in 2001. PORT ROYAL's participation in the early trials formed part of the development work that preceded later Aegis ballistic missile defense capabilities.

In 1999, PORT ROYAL participated in Exercise Northern Edge 99 in Alaskan waters. The joint exercise involved American military forces conducting training in a simulated theater combat environment. During Northern Edge, the Navy's Modeling and Simulation Center and the Army's Space and Missile Defense Battle Laboratory conducted simulations evaluating planned defensive capabilities against ballistic missile threats. PORT ROYAL was connected to the theater missile defense command-and-control network and exchanged missile-warning information with participating facilities. The exercise evaluated the integration of shipboard sensors and tactical systems with theater-level missile defense operations.

During the remainder of 1999, PORT ROYAL conducted training and maintenance at Pearl Harbor while preparing for another deployment with the USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74) Battle Group. In January 2000, PORT ROYAL departed Pearl Harbor for a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf with the USS JOHN C. STENNIS Battle Group.

The battle group entered the Persian Gulf in late February and continued supporting Operation Southern Watch. Carrier aircraft conducted missions enforcing restrictions on Iraqi military aviation, while the accompanying surface combatants provided air-defense coverage, maritime surveillance, and protection for the carrier. PORT ROYAL also participated in Maritime Interception Operations intended to enforce United Nations economic sanctions against Iraq. These operations involved monitoring commercial shipping, identifying potentially unauthorized cargo movements, and supporting boarding operations conducted by coalition naval forces.

During the deployment, PORT ROYAL operated throughout the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters, conducting regular replenishments at sea and training exercises with American and coalition ships. Following the completion of the battle group's Middle East operations, PORT ROYAL continued across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. She returned to Pearl Harbor in late June 2000.

On August 18, 2000, PORT ROYAL entered Dry Dock One at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for her first major dry-docking period since commissioning. The availability included repairs to damage affecting the port propeller hub and sonar dome, along with maintenance and upgrades to the ship's mechanical, electrical, and combat systems. Additional work included habitability improvements and repairs identified during the preceding deployment. On October 24, 2000, PORT ROYAL was undocked from Dry Dock One and returned to a pier at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. She subsequently completed sea trials during a two-day underway period at the end of October.

Following the availability, PORT ROYAL resumed training and equipment evaluations in Hawaiian waters. The crew conducted engineering checks, combat-system testing, and preparations for further operational assignments. On May 9, 2001, PORT ROYAL conducted Naval Surface Fire Support training off the southeastern coast of San Clemente Island, California. The exercise began with spotter-service missions intended to train Marine Corps personnel in the procedures used to observe and adjust naval gunfire. Following these preliminary activities, the cruiser began a Fire Exercise I qualification. During the exercise, the forward 5-inch gun mount fired 72 rounds before a loading-system malfunction prevented further use of the mount. The following day, the aft 5-inch gun mount experienced a minor malfunction affecting its lower ammunition hoist. Despite these equipment problems, PORT ROYAL completed the remaining five missions of the exercise, including a coordinated illumination mission.

During the following months, PORT ROYAL continued operational training and preparations for deployment with the USS JOHN C. STENNIS Battle Group.

Following the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, the Navy accelerated preparations for the battle group's next deployment. American naval forces were being assembled to support military operations against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan.

On November 17, 2001, PORT ROYAL departed Pearl Harbor for a deployment to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Arabian Sea. The cruiser joined the USS JOHN C. STENNIS Battle Group, which had departed the United States earlier that month. During the deployment, PORT ROYAL supported Operation Enduring Freedom. Aircraft operating from USS JOHN C. STENNIS conducted combat missions over Afghanistan, while PORT ROYAL provided air-defense protection, maritime surveillance, and carrier escort support. The cruiser operated in the northern Arabian Sea and surrounding waters during the campaign. Her duties included monitoring air and surface contacts, maintaining defensive readiness, and supporting the movement and protection of naval forces operating in the region.

On March 27, 2002, a sailor aboard PORT ROYAL fell overboard while the cruiser was operating in the Arabian Sea. A rescue helicopter assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 8, embarked aboard USS JOHN C. STENNIS, responded to the emergency and successfully recovered the sailor from the water. Following the completion of her assigned operations, PORT ROYAL began her return voyage across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. On May 21, 2002, PORT ROYAL returned to Pearl Harbor after completing her accelerated deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

During the remainder of 2002, the cruiser underwent post-deployment maintenance, crew training, and personnel changes. She also participated in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2002 (RIMPAC 2002), conducting multinational maritime warfare training in Hawaiian waters. The following months included engineering evaluations, combat-system training, and preparations for another deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East.

During 2003, PORT ROYAL was assigned to Expeditionary Strike Group One, centered on the amphibious assault ship USS PELELIU (LHA 5). The newly developed Expeditionary Strike Group concept combined an amphibious ready group and embarked Marine expeditionary unit with additional surface combatants and a submarine. The arrangement provided the group with expanded air-defense, surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and strike capabilities. In addition to USS PELELIU and PORT ROYAL, the group included USS GERMANTOWN (LSD 42), USS OGDEN (LPD 5), USS JARRETT (FFG 33), USS DECATUR (DDG 73), and the attack submarine USS GREENEVILLE (SSN 772).

On September 3, 2003, PORT ROYAL departed Pearl Harbor with Expeditionary Strike Group One for a deployment to the Western Pacific and U.S. Fifth Fleet area of responsibility. The deployment supported the Global War on Terrorism and included maritime security operations, regional exercises, and cooperation with coalition naval forces. During the deployment, PORT ROYAL provided air-defense and surface surveillance capabilities for the expeditionary strike group. Her embarked helicopter detachment also supported maritime security operations, including the investigation of suspicious vessels and the coordination of boarding teams.

The strike group operated in the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf, conducting maritime interception operations intended to disrupt illicit trafficking and other activities that coalition forces suspected of supporting terrorist organizations. On December 31, 2003, PORT ROYAL intercepted a suspicious fishing dhow in the northern Arabian Sea. A boarding team consisting of sailors from PORT ROYAL and Marines of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit searched the vessel. The boarding team discovered approximately 2,800 pounds of hashish concealed aboard the dhow. The seized narcotics were estimated to have a street value of approximately $11 million. Fifteen individuals aboard the vessel were detained for further investigation. The operation formed part of coalition maritime security and counter-smuggling activities in the region.

During the deployment, PORT ROYAL also participated in Exercise Sea Saber, a Proliferation Security Initiative exercise involving international naval forces. The exercise concentrated on procedures for identifying, intercepting, and inspecting vessels suspected of transporting prohibited weapons or related materials. Following the completion of her Fifth Fleet assignments, PORT ROYAL returned through the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific. On March 11, 2004, she arrived at Pearl Harbor, completing a deployment of approximately six and a half months.

During the remainder of 2004, PORT ROYAL underwent maintenance and resumed training in the Hawaiian operating areas. Her activities included engineering inspections, combat-system evaluations, aviation training, and preparations for further fleet assignments. During 2005, PORT ROYAL continued maintenance and operational training at Pearl Harbor. The cruiser also participated in public maritime events, including the Portland Rose Festival and Fleet Week activities, allowing visitors to tour the ship and meet members of her crew. Training during the year included air-defense exercises, maritime security operations, and preparations for deployment with another expeditionary strike group.

On February 27, 2006, PORT ROYAL departed Pearl Harbor for a six-month deployment with the USS PELELIU Expeditionary Strike Group. The deployment took the group through the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean to the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of responsibility. Its missions included maritime security operations, theater security cooperation, and support for coalition military activities in the Middle East and near the Horn of Africa. PORT ROYAL performed air-defense and maritime surveillance duties and supported the expeditionary strike group's operations in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.

During the deployment, the ship participated in regional exercises, maritime security patrols, and logistics operations. The cruiser also hosted a visit by the U.S. Secretary of State while operating in the Middle East. On July 9, 2006, the USS PELELIU Expeditionary Strike Group completed its operations in the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of responsibility and began its return voyage across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. On August 4, 2006, while PORT ROYAL was returning to Hawaii with USS PELELIU, the group received a request for assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard.

The 110-foot fishing vessel PACIFIC LAUREL had encountered heavy seas approximately 126 nautical miles southwest of Hawaii. The vessel was taking on water, and its crew had requested emergency assistance. PORT ROYAL and USS PELELIU changed course and proceeded approximately 105 nautical miles toward the distressed fishing boat. A Coast Guard HC-130H Hercules aircraft provided coordination and surveillance during the rescue. USS PELELIU launched an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21, Detachment 3, to assist the fishing vessel.

The first helicopter reached PACIFIC LAUREL and established communications with the crew, but a malfunction of its rescue hoist prevented the evacuation from taking place. A second Seahawk helicopter subsequently reached the fishing vessel and rescued two crew members late on August 4. Another helicopter recovered two additional men the following morning. The vessel's captain elected to remain aboard to keep the boat afloat. The four rescued crew members were transported aboard the Navy ships and brought ashore at Pearl Harbor on August 6. A Coast Guard patrol boat subsequently escorted PACIFIC LAUREL toward a Hawaiian port.

Following the rescue operation, PORT ROYAL resumed maintenance and operational training in Hawaiian waters. During 2007, the cruiser completed a training cycle in preparation for deployment with the USS TARAWA (LHA 1) Expeditionary Strike Group. The group included USS HOPPER (DDG 70), USS INGRAHAM (FFG 61), USS CLEVELAND (LPD 7), and USS GERMANTOWN, together with the amphibious assault ship USS TARAWA and embarked Marines of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

During September 2007, PORT ROYAL participated in a Composite Training Unit Exercise off Southern California with the expeditionary strike group. The exercise included integrated air defense, surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, communications, and coordination with the amphibious force.

On November 12, 2007, PORT ROYAL began her next overseas deployment as part of the USS TARAWA Expeditionary Strike Group. The deployment supported Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and included maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and surrounding waters. During the deployment, elements of the expeditionary strike group also provided humanitarian assistance in Bangladesh following Cyclone Sidr, which struck the country in November 2007.

PORT ROYAL continued with maritime security and escort duties as the group proceeded toward the Middle East. On January 6, 2008, PORT ROYAL was transiting the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf with USS HOPPER and USS INGRAHAM when five Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboats approached the American formation at high speed. The Iranian boats maneuvered close to the U.S. Navy ships, at times approaching to within approximately 200 yards. American watchstanders monitored the vessels and issued warnings while maintaining defensive readiness. USS HOPPER issued warnings and conducted evasive maneuvers as the Iranian boats continued their approach. The Iranian vessels eventually departed without an exchange of fire. American officials described the encounter as dangerous and provocative. Iranian officials subsequently characterized the boat movements as routine maritime activity.

Following the encounter, PORT ROYAL continued her deployment in the Persian Gulf. During January 2008, the cruiser visited Mina Salman, Bahrain, for an eight-day port visit that ended on January 15. While at the pier, members of PORT ROYAL's crew conducted technical exchanges with sailors aboard the Royal Bahraini Navy frigate RBNS SABHA (FFG 90). American electronics technicians, engineers, and gunner's mates assisted their Bahraini counterparts with training involving radar equipment, electrical switchboards, and torpedo launchers. The visit also included meetings with senior American naval commanders assigned to the U.S. Fifth Fleet.

During the remainder of the deployment, PORT ROYAL conducted maritime security operations, air-defense exercises, and patrols in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. These duties included monitoring shipping, supporting coalition operations, and protecting naval forces operating in the region. On May 2, 2008, PORT ROYAL and USS HOPPER returned to Pearl Harbor, completing their six-month deployment with the USS TARAWA Expeditionary Strike Group.

During July 2008, PORT ROYAL participated in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2008 (RIMPAC 2008), a multinational naval exercise conducted in Hawaiian waters. Participating nations included the United States, Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, the Netherlands, Peru, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. The exercise included anti-submarine warfare, maritime security, air defense, surface warfare, tactical maneuvering, and combined naval operations.

Following RIMPAC, PORT ROYAL entered a maintenance period at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. The availability included repairs and inspections of mechanical, electrical, and combat systems before the ship returned to sea for trials.

On February 5, 2009, PORT ROYAL ran aground on a coral reef approximately half a mile from the Reef Runway at Honolulu International Airport. The grounding occurred during the cruiser's first day of sea trials following a prolonged maintenance period at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. At the time, PORT ROYAL was operating near the entrance to Pearl Harbor and transferring shipyard workers and other personnel to shore. The ship became firmly grounded and could not be freed under her own power. The accident caused extensive damage to the underwater hull, propellers, propulsion shafts, and bow-mounted sonar dome.

The U.S. Navy and supporting organizations began a salvage operation involving several vessels, including the salvage ship USNS SALVOR (T-ARS 52), tugboats, divers, and additional support personnel. The salvage operation required several attempts to free PORT ROYAL from the reef. To reduce the ship's draft and weight, personnel removed approximately 600 tons of seawater, anchors, and other equipment. The Navy also used towing arrangements and favorable tidal conditions to assist the recovery.

On February 9, 2009, PORT ROYAL was successfully refloated and subsequently returned to Pearl Harbor for damage assessment and repairs. The grounding caused extensive damage to the ship's sonar dome, including cracks in the thick rubber covering. Several propeller blades had been damaged or sheared away, and the running gear and underwater hull required substantial repairs. Although no injuries were reported, the accident also damaged the surrounding coral reef. The Navy subsequently coordinated environmental restoration and mitigation measures with Hawaiian authorities.

An investigation into the grounding identified failures in navigation procedures, equipment readiness, command oversight, and bridge-team performance. Investigators determined that the ship's navigation equipment had not been functioning properly and that members of the bridge team lacked sufficient experience. The commanding officer had also been operating with inadequate rest during the period preceding the accident. The investigation concluded that the grounding could have been prevented through proper navigation procedures and command supervision.

Capt. John Carroll was relieved of command following the accident. Additional members of the ship's company received administrative or disciplinary action, including non-judicial punishment. On February 18, 2009, PORT ROYAL entered dry dock at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for extensive repairs. The work included the replacement or restoration of damaged propulsion components, repairs to the sonar dome and underwater hull, inspections of the shafting and bearings, and additional maintenance identified during the repair process. The cruiser remained in dry dock for more than seven months. On September 24, 2009, she was undocked and returned to a pier at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

Further inspections, equipment testing, and repairs continued during the following weeks. In November 2009, PORT ROYAL completed additional dockside and sea trials as the Navy worked to restore her operational readiness. During 2010, PORT ROYAL continued post-repair training, maintenance, and operational evaluations in Hawaiian waters.

The cruiser conducted engineering and combat-system assessments and completed the qualifications required for returning to extended overseas operations. These activities included navigation training, damage-control exercises, air-defense drills, and the restoration of shipboard readiness following the prolonged repair period.

On June 24, 2011, PORT ROYAL departed Pearl Harbor for an extended deployment to the Western Pacific and U.S. Fifth Fleet area of responsibility. The deployment included maritime security operations, theater security cooperation, air-defense training, and support for coalition naval forces in the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. During the deployment, PORT ROYAL assumed command responsibilities for Commander, Task Group Iraqi Maritime, becoming the final American ship to serve as the task group's flagship during the closing phase of Operation New Dawn. The task group coordinated maritime security operations in the northern Persian Gulf and supported the protection of Iraqi territorial waters and offshore oil infrastructure.

A principal responsibility of the task group was the transition of security duties for the Al Basrah Oil Terminal and Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal to the Iraqi Navy and Iraqi Marines. The two offshore terminals were important facilities for Iraq's petroleum exports and had been protected by American and coalition naval forces during the years following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. PORT ROYAL coordinated with Iraqi naval personnel and coalition forces during the transfer of security responsibilities. The handover formed part of the wider withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq during the final months of 2011.

Operation New Dawn formally concluded in December 2011 as the United States completed its military withdrawal from Iraq. Following the transition, PORT ROYAL continued maritime security operations and training with regional naval forces. Her assignments included air-defense duties, patrols, replenishments at sea, and transits of the Strait of Hormuz. On February 13, 2012, PORT ROYAL returned to Pearl Harbor, completing a deployment of nearly eight months.

Following the deployment, the cruiser underwent maintenance and resumed training in the Hawaiian operating areas. In July 2012, PORT ROYAL participated in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2012 (RIMPAC 2012). The multinational exercise involved ships, submarines, aircraft, and military personnel from numerous nations operating in Hawaiian waters. PORT ROYAL conducted maritime warfare training, tactical communications, and combined naval operations with participating forces. On August 7 and 8, 2012, PORT ROYAL participated in a trilateral maritime exercise with units of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Republic of Korea Navy off Hawaii. The exercise included coordinated air-defense training, maritime communications, tactical maneuvering, and maritime security procedures.

During 2013, PORT ROYAL continued training and operational evaluations in the Pacific Fleet. On February 11, 2013, PORT ROYAL and USS CHAFEE (DDG 90) departed Pearl Harbor to participate in the theater anti-submarine warfare phase of the Submarine Commander's Course. The training was followed by a Task Group Exercise involving the Canadian destroyer HMCS ALGONQUIN (DDG 283) and the Canadian frigate HMCS OTTAWA (FFH 341). The exercises concentrated on anti-submarine warfare, surface operations, communications, and coordination between participating naval units. During this period, the Navy was also evaluating the future of PORT ROYAL as part of wider plans to reduce the number of older cruisers in active service.

The grounding in February 2009 had raised questions about the ship's long-term material condition and the possible cost of additional repairs and modernization. In 2011, Navy officials had decided to pursue the early retirement of PORT ROYAL. The decision was based partly on concerns that the grounding might have caused hidden structural or mechanical damage and that completing future maintenance and modernization work would be unusually expensive. The Navy subsequently conducted additional assessments of the ship's material condition and reported the results to Congress in 2013. These assessments found that PORT ROYAL's hull, superstructure, and other material conditions were generally comparable to those of other TICONDEROGA-class cruisers.

On April 8, 2014, the Government Accountability Office published a report examining the Navy's plans to decommission PORT ROYAL. The GAO found that the Navy's estimated repair and modernization costs included several upgrades that were not planned for comparable cruisers. Removing those costs reduced the estimated total from approximately $712 million to $406 million. The report also found that the 2009 grounding was not expected to cause significant additional long-term maintenance costs compared with those of other cruisers. The GAO recommended that the Navy reconsider its decision to retire PORT ROYAL, taking into account the revised cost estimates, her material condition, and the operational value of her ballistic missile defense capabilities. The Navy subsequently decided to retain PORT ROYAL in service instead of proceeding with her planned retirement during fiscal year 2015.

During July 2014, PORT ROYAL participated in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2014 (RIMPAC 2014). The exercise involved multinational maritime warfare training in Hawaiian waters, including gunnery, anti-submarine warfare, maritime security, and coordinated surface operations. PORT ROYAL participated in visit, board, search, and seizure training with boarding teams from other participating navies. The exercise also included personnel exchanges, tactical maneuvering, and communications training. Following RIMPAC, PORT ROYAL continued maintenance, training, and operational certifications as the Navy prepared the cruiser for another extended deployment.

During 2015, the ship conducted exercises and readiness evaluations in the Pacific operating areas. Her activities included engineering inspections, combat-system certifications, air-defense training, and preparations for operations with carrier strike groups and allied naval forces. On April 18, 2016, PORT ROYAL was photographed at the deperming pier at Naval Base Point Loma, San Diego, undergoing a ten-day magnetic treatment following degaussing runs off the California coast. The deperming process was intended to reduce the ship's magnetic signature and improve protection against magnetic-influence naval mines.

During the following months, PORT ROYAL completed additional preparations for an extended deployment. On August 25, 2016, PORT ROYAL departed Pearl Harbor for a 212-day independent deployment to the U.S. Seventh and Fifth Fleet areas of responsibility. The deployment covered the Western Pacific, South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf. During the deployment, PORT ROYAL conducted maritime security patrols, joint counterterrorism and counter-smuggling exercises, theater anti-submarine warfare operations, air-defense training, and exercises with allied and partner naval forces. The cruiser also supported regional maritime security operations near Yemen and Somalia, including surveillance of shipping routes and the protection of commercial traffic through important maritime passages.

PORT ROYAL operated with the carrier strike groups centered on USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) and USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) during different phases of the deployment. Her duties included air-defense coordination, surface surveillance, carrier escort operations, and cooperation with other surface combatants operating in the region. On February 24, 2017, Capt. Christopher J. Budde relieved Capt. Adolfo H. Ibarra as commanding officer during a change-of-command ceremony held while PORT ROYAL was operating in the Western Pacific. Following the completion of her assignments, the cruiser began her return voyage across the Pacific. On March 24, 2017, PORT ROYAL returned to Pearl Harbor.

During the remainder of 2017, the cruiser underwent post-deployment maintenance and continued operational training at Pearl Harbor. On October 14, 2017, PORT ROYAL was documented at Naval Station Pearl Harbor during a period of maintenance and local operations. During 2018, PORT ROYAL conducted additional training, inspections, and maintenance as the Navy continued sustaining her operational capabilities. In 2019, the cruiser entered a Selected Restricted Availability at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. The availability included repairs and maintenance to engineering, mechanical, electrical, and combat systems, together with inspections and equipment replacement associated with the ship's continued service. By June 2019, PORT ROYAL remained in the shipyard undergoing the availability.

Following the completion of maintenance, the cruiser conducted equipment checks, crew training, and operational evaluations in preparation for another deployment. During 2020, PORT ROYAL continued preparing for overseas operations while the Navy implemented restrictions intended to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections aboard deployed ships.

On November 15, 2020, PORT ROYAL departed Pearl Harbor for a surge deployment to the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of responsibility. The deployment included maritime security operations, regional air-defense training, and participation in multinational naval activities in the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. On December 18, 2020, PORT ROYAL intercepted a stateless dhow in international waters of the northern Arabian Sea while operating in support of Combined Maritime Forces and Combined Task Force 150. A boarding team from the cruiser inspected the vessel and discovered 23 bags containing suspected narcotics. The seized material included approximately 150 pounds of hashish, 400 pounds of methamphetamine, and more than 600 pounds of heroin, with a combined weight exceeding 1,100 pounds. The operation formed part of multinational efforts to disrupt illicit maritime trafficking in the region.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the boarding team followed additional health-protection and decontamination procedures during and after the seizure. PORT ROYAL subsequently continued maritime security patrols and training with American and coalition naval forces in the Fifth Fleet area. On February 8, 2021, PORT ROYAL transited the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf with USS MAKIN ISLAND (LHD 8) and USNS CARL BRASHEAR (T-AKE 7). The transit supported the movement of American naval forces through the strait and their subsequent operations in the Persian Gulf.

From February 17 to 19, 2021, PORT ROYAL participated in Joint Air Defense Exercise 21-01 (JADEX 21-01) in the Gulf of Oman with USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG 53). The exercise also involved forces from U.S. Army Central Command and U.S. Air Forces Central Command. Training activities included integrated air and missile defense procedures, tactical communications, and coordination between naval, land-based, and airborne defense systems.

PORT ROYAL also participated in Exercise Khunjar Hadd 26 with regional naval forces, conducting maritime security, air-defense, and surface warfare training. During March 2021, PORT ROYAL continued operations in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. On March 19, the cruiser participated in Group Arabian Sea Warfare Exercise 2021 with the French aircraft carrier FS CHARLES DE GAULLE (R 91), the Japanese destroyer JS ARIAKE (DD 109), and USS MAKIN ISLAND. The multinational exercise included air-defense coordination, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and maritime security operations. Naval forces from France, Belgium, Japan, and the United States participated in the training.

During April 2021, PORT ROYAL proceeded eastward toward the Western Pacific. On April 9, 2021, the cruiser participated in a combined naval exercise and photo formation in the South China Sea involving the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) Carrier Strike Group and the USS MAKIN ISLAND Amphibious Ready Group. The exercise included coordinated maneuvering, air-defense training, and integration of surface and amphibious forces operating in the region. Following completion of her deployment, PORT ROYAL continued across the Pacific toward Hawaii. On April 27, 2021, PORT ROYAL returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after completing her deployment to the Fifth and Seventh Fleet areas.

During the remainder of 2021, the cruiser underwent maintenance and operational training in preparation for what would become her final overseas deployment. On January 10, 2022, PORT ROYAL departed Pearl Harbor for another deployment to the U.S. Seventh and Fifth Fleet areas of responsibility. The deployment included maritime security operations, regional exercises, air-defense training, and cooperation with allied and partner naval forces throughout the Western Pacific and Middle East. During the voyage, PORT ROYAL conducted numerous replenishments at sea and transited several important international waterways.

Port visits during the deployment included Guam; Sasebo and Okinawa, Japan; Singapore; Bahrain; and Kuwait. In the Fifth Fleet area, PORT ROYAL continued conducting maritime security patrols and air-defense operations in support of American and coalition naval forces. The deployment included nine major strait transits and approximately 40,000 miles of travel. After completing her final operational assignments, PORT ROYAL began her return voyage across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. On July 18, 2022, PORT ROYAL returned to Pearl Harbor.

Following the homecoming, the cruiser began preparations for retirement. These activities included the transfer of personnel, administrative processing, inspections, and preparations for the removal or preservation of equipment. On September 29, 2022, PORT ROYAL held her decommissioning ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The ceremony marked the conclusion of more than 28 years of commissioned service. Capt. Michael Wagner, the ship's final commanding officer, addressed the assembled crew and guests. Capt. Joe Ring, Commander of Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, served as guest speaker during the ceremony.

On September 30, 2022, PORT ROYAL was formally decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register. The former cruiser subsequently entered inactive status pending final disposition.

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Homeports of USS PORT ROYAL:

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USS PORT ROYAL Patch Gallery:

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USS PORT ROYAL Image Gallery:

The photo below was taken by me and shows the PORT ROYAL at Pearl Harbor, Hi., on March 19, 2010.

The photos below were taken by me and show the PORT ROYAL arriving at Pearl Harbor, Hi., on March 8, 2012.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the PORT ROYAL at the Deperming Pier at Naval Base Point Loma, Calif., for a 10-day magnetic treatment (DEPERM) after previously conducting degaussing runs off Point Loma. The photos were taken on April 18, 2016.

The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the PORT ROYAL at Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Hi., on October 14, 2017.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the PORT ROYAL undergoing a Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Hi., on June 8, 2019.

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