The US Navy commissioned a new submarine, the first vessel in its fleet designed to fully integrate male and female sailors, Report informs referring to Fox News.
The USS New Jersey, a fast-attack Virginia-class submarine, was commissioned during a ceremony at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Middletown, New Jersey.
"You operate the most complex platform on the planet and you continuously strive for excellence," New Jersey’s commanding officer Cmdr. Steve Halle addressed the submarine’s crew during the ceremony. "I’m amazed and humbled at what we have accomplished."
"Our superior professionalism is enhanced by our crew integration and our diversity," Halle continued. "We have exceeded expectations at every turn and overcome every obstacle set before us."
The USS New Jersey has a crew of nearly 135 Navy personnel. It’s the first in its class designed to be fully gender integrated.
When the Navy lifted its ban on women in submarines in 2010, concern about the living quarters being too tight and a lack of privacy prompted the Navy to retrofit subs and designate washrooms.
The USS New Jersey was designed for two genders from the outset with accommodations like increased privacy in washrooms and sleeping areas, Vice Admiral Robert Gaucher, commander of Submarine Forces Atlantic, told NorthJersey.com. Access to top bunks and overhead valves were also designed with the height, reach and strength of women in mind.
The nuclear-powered submarine was unofficially nicknamed "Jersey Girl," and its interior spaces decorated with posters and memorabilia representing the state, including a guitar signed by Jon Bon Jovi, the news outlet reported.