Shallow water hinders Navy ship’s visit for Merrie Monarch

The decision by the guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon not to pull into Hilo Harbor on Friday for the Merrie Monarch Festival highlighted the need for shallower-water ships the Navy wants to add to its fleet.

The 509-foot Chung-Hoon draws around 31 or 32 feet of water, according to the Navy.

The state Department of Transportation said the channel into Hilo Harbor has 31 feet of clearance. The depth apparently has diminished over time, according to the Navy.

In an "abundance of caution" and as advised by the embarked state DOT harbor pilot, the commanding officer of the Chung-Hoon felt it prudent not to enter the harbor due to the shallow depth, the Navy said.

"Changes in bottom harbor topography from apparent silting is not an unexpected phenomenon," Navy Region Hawaii said in an email. "Information about the change in depth of the harbor was delayed in reaching all parties concerned, and we’re looking into how we can prevent this from happening again. We will be working more closely with our civilian partners and experienced pilots in future neighbor island visits."

Sailors from the Chung-Hoon still were still able to march in the Merrie Monarch parade along with the Pacific Fleet Marching Band.

"We were honored to be able to participate. Sharing the Navy with the people of Hilo is important," the Navy command said.

The Navy said it has been invited to participate in the festival every year since it began in 1964.

The destroyer USS Chafee was there in 2006, the destroyer USS Hopper in 2007, the frigate USS Reuben James in 2008 and the frigate USS Crommelin in 2010 and 2012, the Navy said. A 2007 Navy release said the Hopper was to participate in a pierside welcoming ceremony.

The Crommelin, which had a 22-foot draft, also visited pierside. The two Hawaii-based frigates were retired in 2012 and 2013. Pearl Harbor now is home to destroyers and even bigger cruisers.

The Navy initiated the DDG-1000 program in the early 1990s to build 32 land-attack warships. The goal was a return to the large-caliber gunfire capability the Navy lost when it retired Iowa-class battleships, as well as to improve capabilities in defended littoral waters, or shallower nearshore waters, where a majority of shipping operates.

Although the 610-foot ships are much bigger than current DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, their draft is just 27.6 feet.

Amid skyrocketing costs, the program, known as the Zumwalt class, was cut back to just three ships at a cost of about $3.4 billion per ship. The decision was made instead to restart the construction of DDG-51 destroyers with ballistic missile defense capabilities.