Ships from the United States Navy, Coast Guard, and the Canadian Maritime Forces dropped anchor at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park Wednesday and Thursday for this year’s Rose Festival Fleet Week.

When the ships arrived, traffic was delayed for about 15 minutes as bridges were lifted to accommodate the large vessels.

SLIDESHOWS:

On Deck

Sky 8 over ships(Thursday)

Fleet week (Wednesday)

Tall Sailing Ships

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The fleet docked between the Steel and Morrison bridges, (click here to see map) on the Willamette River, and will remain there from Wednesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 8. There will be a patrolled security zone around the ships at all times.

Ships' departure schedule for June 9:

•Four ships are scheduled to leave Portland between 5 and 6 a.m.

•The final six ships will leave following rush hour at 9 a.m.

Public transit delays:

•During the bridge lifts, all MAX trains may need to drop riders at the Old Town/Chinatown and Rose Quarter Transit Center stations. Shuttle buses will be available to take MAX riders across the river, but they will have limited options if several bridges are raised at the same time.

•MAX riders traveling to the airport may board an airport shuttle bus at the Old Town/Chinatown Station that will take them directly to the airport. Riders should schedule extra travel time for their trip.

•The 12 bus lines that cross the Broadway, Burnside and Morrison bridges will also experience delays and may have some detours.

Fleet week has been an annual tradition in Portland for nearly 80 years.

The USS Charleston was the first ship to visit the Portland Rose Festival in 1907. Canadian Maritime Forces joined the fleet in 1924 and continue to bring about four ships each year.

The Battleship USS Oregon visited the Rose Festival in its final tour before decommissioning in 1925. The mast of the USS Oregon now resides in Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

Public tours:

Admission is free (on a first-come basis as time allows) Due to current world affairs, public tours of Fleet Week ships will be limited and may be cancelled without notice.

Public tours will be on a first-come basis: 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

More: All Rose Festival events & info

Visitors may be subject to personal search and no bags, strollers or wheelchairs will be allowed onboard. There will not be any 'holding area' for personal items and visitors must be able to maneuver on board the ships, including climbing narrow ladders.

The following items are prohibited during ship tours:

•Weapons, including knives, firearms and club weapons

•Defensive chemicals or spray, including mace and pepper spray; spray cans of any type

•Fireworks, flammable liquids or other explosives

•Illegal drugs and/or drug-related paraphernalia

•Large bags, including backpacks, diaper bags and large camera bags (small camera bags and small handbags may be permitted, but will be subject to search)

(Please note that no items, including strollers or wheelchairs, may be left unattended at the security checkpoint at any time. And no political or marketing activities are allowed while aboard U.S. Navy ships, including pamphleteering, making speeches, posting displays or advertising commercial interests.)