BATH, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — The sight of it has been causing those driving over the Kennebec River in Bath to double-take for years.
But Wednesday, the USS Zumwalt will set sail for its new home port in San Diego.
The Zumwalt is the first of three, new, technologically advanced-destroyers being built at Bath Iron Works. It looks different than the destroyers of the past, some saying it's straight out of a science fiction show, and the name of its commanding officer happens to be Cpt. James Kirk.
Cpt. James A. Kirk said he's named after his grandfather, not the Star Trek character, and will lead the 147 member crew.
The Navy said construction on the Zumwalt began back in 2009, and it was christened in April 2014. It's 610 feet long, weighs 16,000 tons and cost $3.6 billion. It's much more difficult to detect on radar than previous destroyers and is specially equipped to provide fire support to soldiers on land.
Cpt. Kirk said the ship is technologically impressive, but it would be nothing without the crew and the people of Maine who worked next to them and supported them.
The Zumwalt will sail to Baltimore for a commissioning ceremony before heading to San Diego, but Cpt. Kirk said he is keeping a close eye on the weather and Hermine.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the ship is still scheduled to head out to sea Wednesday afternoon.