The USS New Orleans anchors near White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Aug. 21, 2025, hours after a fire was extinguished aboard the ship. (Ryan M. Breeden/Stars and Stripes)
The USS New Orleans returned to White Beach Naval Facility on Okinawa’s southeastern coast Friday, a day after U.S. and Japanese crews, along with the country’s coast guard, extinguished a fire that burned aboard the vessel for 12 hours.
The amphibious transport dock ship, which had been anchored offshore, came back to port under its own power at an unspecified time, the U.S. 7th Fleet said in statement Friday evening.
Several sailors were treated for minor injuries and have returned to duty, the statement said. The fleet reported Thursday that two sailors suffered minor injuries and were treated on board. It did not immediately respond to phone and email inquiries Friday evening.
“I am relieved to hear the sailors have returned to duty, and I thank them for their dedicated service and bravery,” U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass said in a statement issued by U.S. Embassy Tokyo earlier Friday, referring to the two initial injuries.
The fire’s cause remains under investigation, and damage assessors are inspecting the New Orleans, according to the fleet’s release. The blaze broke out at 4 a.m. Wednesday and was confined to the ship’s forward area.
“New Orleans is providing its own berthing and galley services remain open, allowing for the crew of nearly 380 Sailors to continue to work and reside aboard their ship,” the statement said.
The ambassador praised Japanese and Okinawan assistance, calling the firefighting effort an example of strong U.S.-Japan cooperation.
This incident “shows, once again, why the U.S.-Japan Alliance is second to none,” Glass said in the embassy’s statement. “I deeply appreciate the critical assistance of the Japanese and Okinawan governments, which helped ensure the fire was brought under control quickly and without any serious injuries to American or Japanese personnel.”
Amphibious transport dock ships carry Marines, equipment and aircraft, such as helicopters and MV-22B Ospreys, to support expeditionary warfare missions.
