The ceremony is part of Commissioning Week, taking place May 9 to 18. Military ceremonies, educational programs and public events tied to the ship’s commissioning have been taking place all week. Organizers said the week will also recognize Northeast Ohio manufacturers involved in supplying materials and equipment for the vessel. 

Built at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin, the USS Cleveland includes products and components from several Northeast Ohio companies, including Sherwin-Williams, Cleveland-Cliffs, Lincoln Electric, Parker Hannifin, TransDigm and The Hellan Strainer Company. 

Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine, headquartered in Cleveland, said it supplied about 30% of the coatings used on the ship. The coatings were applied to the underwater hull, ballast and fuel tanks, decks, topside finishes and corrosion control systems. 

Sherwin-Williams said some of the coatings used on the USS Cleveland were developed through research partnerships with the U.S. Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. 

Among the technologies used on the vessel are single-coat ballast and fuel tank coatings designed to cure rapidly while meeting international regulations that restrict copper and tin. The company also developed antifouling coatings intended to reduce marine growth on hulls and improve fuel efficiency. 

As the final ship in the Freedom-class program, the USS Cleveland represents the conclusion of a major shipbuilding effort. It is designed to support various missions, including maritime security, sea control and forward presence. Following its commissioning, it will be homeported in Mayport, Florida.