Ship built with 9-11 steel due in Norfolk

NORFOLK — A Navy assault ship built with tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center is sailing to Virginia waters.

The USS New York is due Thursday at Naval Station Norfolk, where it will remain until embarking Oct. 29 for Camp Lejeune, N.C., then on to New York. At Camp Lejeune, it will pick up members of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The $1 billion ship named to commemorate the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will be commissioned Nov. 7 in New York.

The New York is 684 feet long and can carry up to 800 Marines.

About 7.5 tons of World Trade Center steel was melted at the Bradken Inc. foundry in Amite, La., and used in the New York’s bow.