NEW YORK (NewsNation) — Military ships have arrived in New York City for the 36th year of Fleet Week, an annual tradition that brings thousands of service members to the Big Apple for Memorial Day weekend.

The time-honored tradition gives the 2,300 members of the U.S. military a chance to visit New York City and allows Americans the opportunity to honor those who serve at sea and witness firsthand the capabilities of maritime service ships.

Navy brings 11 vessels to the Big Apple

Leading the Fleet Week Flotilla of 11 vessels is the USS Bataan. The massive amphibious assault vessel, which steamed into the New York Harbor from Virginia, is about 843 feet long. Its flight deck is about the length of three football fields, back-to-back.

Currently, there are about 1,500 Sailors and Marines aboard who recently returned from deployment. It’s now docked at Pier 88 and is accessible to the public every day except Memorial Day.

The U.S. Coast Guard Sturgeon Bay, a 140-foot bay-class cutter, responsible for providing search and rescue capabilities and protecting infrastructure in the US maritime environment is also on the water. Lt. Commander Grant Devisser, the vessel’s commanding officer shared how he and his dog conduct their missions.

“We do a lot of detection patrols in order to keep the public safe. We do search for explosives, and we make sure that everybody is safe. All the waterfronts are good, and that’s usually what we do on a daily basis,” Devisser said.

Devisser’s dog also does vertical deployment.

“We will do vertical delivery from the helicopter to a boat or a platform. Then we’ll do vessel to vessel, so from one vessel to another vessel,” Devisser said. “We have an emergency vehicle with lights if we have to get somewhere quickly, if unfortunately, there is a bomb threat or anything like that, we can get there fast.”

Jarred patrols are also on the water. They’re used to train midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy.

All of the other ships are also available for tours, both at the piers on the West Side of Manhattan between 45th and 49th Streets and at the Homeport Pier, on Staten Island. 

What is Fleet Week?

Fleet Week New York began Wednesday with the Parade of Ships in the New York Harbor.

“Fleet Week’s just a great time to get out, see the communities that we support and defend all across the nation throughout the year,” Capt. Paul Burkhart, commanding officer of the USS Bataan, said Monday on “Morning in America.”

Those in attendance will also have the chance to meet sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen.

“Fleet Week is just a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Petty Officer Christine Smith, named the 2024 USS Bataan Sailor of the Year, told “Morning in America.”

Fleet Week started in 1988. The 36th Fleet Week New York runs through next Tuesday.

NewsNation affiliate WPIX contributed to this report.