U.S.S. North Dakota Commander Updates Legislature | Video

Jessica Roose | 1/11/2013

It`s been a long time coming, but in about a year, the U.S.S. North Dakota will be commissioned to the United States Navy. Today, the commanding officer of the nuclear-powered submarine was at the state capitol to update the legislature on its progress.

Bob Wefald has been working on getting a ship named after North Dakota since the 1980`s. And his dream has come true. "For 33 years the ship is going to carry the name of North Dakota all over the world. It`s going to be the finest and most modern ship in the world when it gets commissioned."

Today Commander Douglas Gordon updated lawmakers on its progress. "The ship is about 80 percent complete. They`re taking the last section, the bow section, will be moved into place into the end of next week and will be welded to the rest of the ship. At that point when the welding is complete the ship will be pressure hole complete and the ship will actually look like a real submarine. At least from the outside."

There will be 135 crew members assigned to the ship and at least one of them is a North Dakota native.

"Chief of the boat, Master Chief Tim Preabt. What a great guy. He actually was born in Minot, went to school in Williston and graduated high school in Mandan," Gordon said.

Once commissioned, the Virginia Class submarine will go its entire 33 year lifespan without needing to be refueled.

For more information on the ship and to request to attend the christening in July visit Wefald`s blog at www.ussnd.com .

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