The fleet arrives for Seafair

SEATTLE — Fleet Week kicked off in Seattle with the annual Parade of Ships.

The U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian navy sailed through Elliott Bay Wednesday afternoon before tying up in downtown.

Crew members lined the decks at attention. The picture perfect arrival took place amidst the haze from the British Columbia wildfires.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mellon is front and center this year and will be tied up at Pier 66 all weekend. The Mellon is based in Seattle but is deployed about six months each year. It spent the last two months undergoing maintenance in Seattle.

KIRO-7's Alison Grande is on board the Mellon and talked to crew members who call Seattle home. She's working on that story for KIRO-7 News at 5:45 p.m.

KIRO-7 met two crew members who are Seattle-area residents.

Seaman Whalen Moreno, 23, is from Snoqualmie. He joined the Coast Guard last year and remembers boating with friends on Lake Washington during Seafair. "I've always seen Seafair growing up so it's fun to join in on the fun and experience it from another side," Moreno said.

Moreno's mother and siblings were also on board. "Super proud," said Tia Borgioli, Moreno's mother,. "It is so cool we get to be a part of Seafair and be on the boat experiencing it."

Family, friends, and other guests were invited to be on board during the Parade of Ships.

Chief Electronics Technician Eric Potier just got reassigned to the Mellon. "It's excellent to be back. Me and my wife both grew up in Marysville. We're high school sweet hearts," Potier said.

The USS Michael Murphy, a guided missile destroyer, will also be open for tours at Pier 66.

The USS Anchorage, an amphibious transport dock, will be at Pier 90.

Two Canadian navy coastal defense vessels, the HMCS Yellowknife and HMCS Edmonton, will be located at Pier 69.

More information on the ships and the tour schedule can be found here.

Cox Media Group