Naval Station Norfolk Reviews Towing Incident

PHOTO CAPTION: USS Kearsarge operates in the Atlantic Ocean during training June 19, 2026. Roughly 90 sailors assigned to the ship later returned from an underway period to find their vehicles had been towed at Naval Station Norfolk, prompting the base to review its notification and vehicle procedures. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Riley Gasdia)

Naval Station Norfolk is reviewing its notification and parking procedures after roughly 90 USS Kearsarge sailors returned from sea earlier this month to discover their vehicles had been towed from the base.

The review is a new development in an incident that drew attention after sailors assigned to the amphibious assault ship returned from about 10 days underway and found that their vehicles had been removed from a waterfront parking area. The cars were towed as the base prepared for an Aug. 29 Morale, Welfare and Recreation concert featuring Teddy Swims and Miranda Lambert.

Now Naval Station Norfolk says it is examining what can be learned from the episode.

Base spokeswoman Kelly Wirfel told Stars and Stripes that officials are reviewing waterfront notifications, coordination with commands and procedures for dealing with privately owned vehicles when temporary parking restrictions coincide with a ship being underway.

The base maintains that notice of the parking restrictions had been provided before the vehicles were removed.

According to Wirfel, the entire waterfront was officially notified of the restrictions Aug. 10. The USS Kearsarge and other ships received notifications on multiple dates, and barriers, cones and caution tape were placed around affected parking areas before the concert. The Kearsarge was still in port when the initial notices were distributed and when barriers first began appearing.

But the number of vehicles ultimately towed raised questions about whether that information reached the sailors who needed it.

WHRO first reported that roughly 90 Kearsarge sailors were affected. One sailor's spouse told the outlet that sailors, including senior personnel, had not been properly informed before the ship departed. The spouse also said the commanding officer's personal vehicle was among those towed.

When the Kearsarge returned in early September, sailors were transported to the impound lot to retrieve their vehicles.

Stars and Stripes reported Thursday that affected sailors did have to pay towing fees, although storage and impound fees were waived. The base did not disclose the amount of the towing charge.

That distinction is important because some earlier reporting surrounding the incident left the cost to individual sailors unclear.

Under normal base rules, sailors may leave their vehicles in the waterfront parking area while underway for periods of 14 days or less. In this case, those normal parking arrangements overlapped with temporary restrictions put in place for the concert.

The Kearsarge is currently preparing for a scheduled deployment and has been periodically leaving Norfolk for training with Marine units based in North Carolina.

Naval Station Norfolk has not announced any specific policy changes resulting from the review.

(Source: OAF Nation)