USS ESSEX (LHD2), USCGC HALIBUT, AND USCGC TERRELL HORNE TO VISIT PORT OF LOS ANGELES FOR LA FLEET WEEK 2026
U.S. Navy Amphibious Assault Ship and U.S. Coast Guard Cutters to Headline the 10th Annual LA Fleet Week® During Memorial Day Weekend
WHAT: LA Fleet Week® 2026 will welcome USS Essex (LHD 2), a U.S. Navy Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, along with U.S. Coast Guard cutters USCGC Halibut (WPB 87340) and USCGC Terrell Horne (WPC-1131) to the LA Waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro as part of the 10th annual celebration honoring the nation’s Sea Services.
USS Essex, USCGC Halibut, and USCGC Terrell Horne will be open for free public tours during LA Fleet Week®, giving visitors a rare opportunity to experience active-duty Navy and Coast Guard vessels and meet the Navy sailors, Marines, and Coast Guard members who serve aboard them.
LA Fleet Week® 2026 also serves as the official Los Angeles kickoff to AMERICA 250, the nationwide commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
WHEN: Media Day – Thursday, 5/21/26, from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. provides press and media personnel a dedicated opportunity to cover the ships, interview service members, and preview military displays before the event officially opens to the public.
Public Tours – USS Essex, USCGC Halibut, and USCGC Terrell Horne will be conducting public tours Friday, 5/22/26, through Monday, 5/25/26. Tour times will be posted on the LA Fleet Week 2026 schedule of events.
WHERE: Port of Los Angeles Outer Harbor (Berth 46) – 3011 Miner Street, San Pedro, CA
HOW: USS Essex will be berthed in San Pedro’s Outer Harbor, but the only way for the public to board the ship will be to catch a shuttle bus. Prior to getting in line for the shuttle bus, all visitors must join the digital tour queue and be assigned a time to get in line. Specific instructions can be found on the LA Fleet Week website.
USCGC Halibut and USCGC Terrell Horne will be berthed at the Downtown Harbor at 504 S. Harbor Blvd, San Pedro, next to the Los Angeles Maritime Museum. The Coast Guard cutters will be located within a short walking distance from the LA Fleet Week waterfront festival, and visitors will not need to join the digital queue to tour the vessels.
DETAILS: USS Essex (LHD 2) is a multipurpose amphibious assault ship capable of supporting helicopters, MV-22 Osprey aircraft, amphibious landing craft, and Marine Expeditionary Unit operations. Joining Essex will be USCGC Halibut and USCGC Terrell Horne, U.S. Coast Guard cutters that support maritime security, law enforcement, search and rescue, and homeland security missions throughout the Pacific region. Their participation highlights the longstanding relationship between the Sea Services and the Los Angeles region.
In addition to ship tours, LA Fleet Week® will feature military displays, live entertainment, STEM programming, aircraft flyovers, community outreach events, and leadership and resilience initiatives throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
Anchored by Memorial Day, LA Fleet Week® honors the men and women of the United States Sea Services while fostering meaningful connections between service members and the communities they serve. Portions of the week’s programming will specifically focus on remembrance and reflection, honoring those who gave their lives in defense of the nation.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:
- USS Essex and Coast Guard cutter visuals and b-roll opportunities
- Interviews with Navy and Coast Guard leadership, sailors, and Marines
- Ship tour footage and onboard demonstrations
- Live event coverage from the LA Waterfront
- Community engagement and outreach activities throughout the region
For the full schedule of ship tours, performances, and community events, visit lafleetweek.com.
For credentialing and media inquiries, contact:
Brian O’Rourke
Fleet Week Core Planner and Media Relations Officer
Public Affairs Office
Navy Region Southwest
brian.k.orourke.civ@us.navy.mil
(619) 985-3725 (cell)
Ken Hagihara, APR, Fellow PRSA
Media Relations Representative for LA Fleet Week
khagihara@lafleetweek.org
949-533-5447 (cell)
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