Crown Prince on board the USS Gerald R. Ford  

The Crown Prince was invited to visit the aircraft carrier by the U.S. authorities, and travelled out to the USS Gerald R. Ford on the Royal vessel Stjernen.

Crown Prince Haakon aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford. Photo: Liv Anette Luane, The Royal Court

The US crew followed the established tradition of hoisting a visiting admiral’s command flag as the Crown Prince, an admiral in the Norwegian Navy, went aboard. The Crown Prince’s flag flew from the bridge’s main mast for the duration of his visit on the carrier.

During his visit the Crown Prince was accompanied by the Chief of the Norwegian Navy, Commodore Trond Gimmingsrud, and the US Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Sharon Hudson-Dean. While on board Crown Prince Haakon was briefed by the ship’s commanding officer, Capt. Rick Burgess, and the Chief of the Carrier Strike Group, Rear Admiral Erik Eslich. The Crown Prince also met some of the crew and was given a tour of much of the vessel.

The Crown Prince also met some of the crew. Photo: Liv Anette Luane, The Royal Court

The aircraft carrier, named after former US President Gerald R. Ford, is on its first operational voyage and Oslo is the ship’s first port of call since departing Naval Station Norfolk in the US state of Virginia. Before entering Norwegian waters, the USS Gerald R. Ford carried out a patrol in the North Sea. Onlookers on boats and along the shore watched as the 333-metre-long ship entered the Oslo Fjord at Færder Lighthouse Wednesday morning on its way to the capital.

The USS Gerald R. Ford belongs to the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet, which is responsible for operations in Europe and Africa. The ship has a crew of about 4 600 and carries more than 90 aircraft.

Crown Prince Haakon travelled out to the USS Gerald R. Ford on the Royal vessel Stjernen. Photo: Felix Lerfald Golden / Forsvaret

The USS Gerald R. Ford is the U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier. Photo: Onar Digernes Aase / Forsvaret