Residents of Portsmouth, Rye, and New Castle may be disturbed by the sound of gunfire just outside the mouth of the Piscataqua River this week. But don’t be alarmed; it’s just U.S. patrol boats conducting a regularly scheduled exercise.
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and U.S. Coast Guard will conduct Exercise Citadel Protect, an anti-terrorism/force protection exercise, from Tuesday to Thursday, April 25 to 27. The exercise, according to the Shipyard’s Public Affairs Office, is “designed to enhance the training and readiness of Navy harbor security forces.” Navy and Coast Guard patrol boats will use blank ammunition, which will likely be audible from communities along the northern section of the New Hampshire coastline.
Meanwhile, a couple of ships are currently in the Port of New Hampshire, and at least two more are expected over the next few days. Get the details below.
CSL TACOMA
Type: self discharging bulk carrier
Arrival: in port, sails April 24
Flag: Bahamas
Cargo: gypsum
Terminal: National Gypsum
Deadweight: 71,552 tons
Length x breadth: 229 x 32 meters
Year built: 2013
EAST COAST (formerly NOR’EASTER)
Type: oil/chemical tanker
Arrival: April 25
Flag: Canada
Cargo: heating oil and diesel
Terminal: Irving
Deadweight: 37,515 tons
Length x breadth: 183 x 27 meters
Year built: 2005
ASPHALT SAILOR
Type: oil chemical tanker
Arrival: April 27
Flag: Marshall Islands
Cargo: asphalt
Terminal: Sprague Avery Lane
Deadweight: 9,240 tons
Length x breadth: 109 x 19 meters
Year built: 2006
NORDERNEY
Type: general cargo
Arrival: in port, sails May 1
Flag: Antigua Barbuda
Cargo: loading fiber-optic cable
Terminal: Tyco
Deadweight: 5,476 tons
Length x breadth: 108 x 17 meters
Year built: 2012
Information via the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Congressional and Public Affairs Office, Portsmouth Pilots, and MarineTraffic.com. Note: Ship schedules are subject to change.