Last Passage

USS Independence (CV/CVA-62) was the US Navy’s most battle-experienced vessel when decommissioned in 1998, having served from the Cuban Missile Crisis to the Iraq War. But few would have predicted the 1,070-ft, 60,000-ton carrier’s last voyage from Washington State around South America via the Strait of Magellan to Texas (where she is being scrapped), 16,086 nautical miles, would be among the most epic.

View a rollicking time-lapse of the trip.

Josh Shaw ’12 served as Chief Mate with Edison Chouest Offshore aboard AHTS Dino Chouest, which towed Independence in record time of 80 days to her last anchorage. The 348-ft. Dino Chouest, powered by two 10,880 hp diesel engines, towed the carrier using 2,000 ft. of wire with four shots of surge gear.

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Larry Wade
6 years ago

Wow…I understand another MMA Alum was also on the Dino for this epic voyage?

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billysims
6 years ago
Reply to  Larry Wade

Yes, in addition to Shaw, Katherine (Kat) Strout, MMA class of 2010 was also aboard, as well as Eric Durrance, Mike Kratz, Stu Tooms, Isaac Annan, Christian Martinez, Steve Palmer, Zach Burich, Alvine Davis, Jared Merry, Jessy Johnson, Sam Elia, Cory Pitzl, Juan Ortiz

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Alain Ingani
6 years ago

I like, this was my dream!! Good luck my bro

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Barb Biscone
6 years ago

Amazing voyage Josh!
Thanks for sharing this. Great job on the documentary.

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