Just a bit of nautical news. The newly christened US Navy Freedom LSC1 sailed into the Duluth, MN, harbor yesterday, making its first ever port of call on its shakedown cruise. It is a 377 foot "Littoral Combat Ship" (LCS) which is a new class of coastal warships, complementing the Navys Aegis fleet destroyers. She is very stealthy with a sloped and a mostly smooth superstructure. Check out http://www.ussfreedom.org/freedom-facts Of interest is that she can travel at least 52 mph (45 knots). Her hull displacement speed would be about 26 knots, so it is clear she has a planing hull. A trawler she is not. Propulsion is by water jets powered by two 96,550 HP gas turbines. The ship will be officially commissioned, I think next week in Milwaukee. David Sorenson Duluth, MN ____________________________________________________________ Click here to find the right business program for you and take your career to the next level. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3l7gM3aJ0TAfJOGwH0v6uSzTXzpj4aH4iXhUZMTfVMgHdm0U/