Thursday 24 February 2011

Lost Property

Plastic safety helmets aren't uncommon washed up along the Ardnamurchan shore but when Alasdair MacLachlan saw this one while he was securing a piece of pontoon this morning, he took a closer look.

It had goose barnacles on it so had obviously been in the sea for some time, which isn't surprising as it comes from the US aircraft carrier, the Dwight D Eisenhower which is currently in her home port of Norfolk, Virginia, having returned from deployment in the Middle East.

Launched in 1975, the Eisenhower is nuclear powered and, in theory, can stay at sea for twenty years without refuelling. She saw action in both the Gulf conflicts. She has a length of over three football pitches and carries a crew of more than 5,000, one of whom lost his helmet overboard.

Many thanks to Alasdair and Morven for the helmet photos and story.
Photo of Eisenhower courtesy US Navy

No comments:

Post a Comment