Parade Of Ships Kicks Off Fleet Week In New York City

NEW YORK, NY — As dozens of warships sailed into the Hudson Wednesday cheered by crowds that lined the riverbank, Fleet Week 2019 officially began.

The arrival of the ships serves as an official precursor to an invasion of sailors, wandering as tourists through the city streets usually in their white naval uniforms.

The boats plowed under the Verrazano Bridge, past the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor and up the Hudson River from Battery Park to the George Washington Bridge.

The Parade of Ships marks the 31st Fleet Week in NYC, which will run until Tuesday, May 28. The event gives the opportunity for the public to meet with members of the Navy, Marines and Coastguard and discuss what life is like in the Armed Services.

Among the ships participating in the parade was the U.S.S New York, which was built from pieces of steel from the World Trade Center. There was an 11 gun salute in Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn for the ship as it passed by, according to NBC.

The boats participating in the parade are now docked all throughout the city, including at Pier 86 and Pier 88 in Manhattan.

One politically motivated kayaker also chose to get into the mix of the Hudson River waters Wednesday morning, despite the lack of invitation.

The sailor whose canoe was decked with a Trump flag was quickly escorted out of the area by the NYPD.

Ship tours will be available for a select number of the Parade of Ship vessels throughout the week.

For all the up to date info on Fleet Week, visit here.