UPDATE (9:44 p.m. Eastern): <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) \u2014 The world\u2019s largest navy base has resumed normal operations after reports of a possible trespassing scuba diver appear to be unfounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The U.S. Navy said in a statement Monday that all ships were clear after an extensive search that involved boats, helicopters and other personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier in the day, sailors on watch at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia reported seeing a possible diver in a secured area near one of its piers. A security gate sits in the water surrounding the base and the 14 piers to which warships dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nearly 60 ships are based in Norfolk, including the fleet\u2019s newest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The carrier returned to its pier recently after successfully testing new equipment that launches and lands jet fighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
_____<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NORFOLK, Va. \u2014 The Navy\u2019s search for a possible diver who was trespassing in the waters surrounding the piers at Naval Station, Norfolk, will likely continue for some time, a Navy official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey are still searching for the possible diver,\u201d said Kelly Wirfel, spokeswoman for Naval Station Norfolk in an email around 2:30 p.m. Monday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt will most likely take some time until they can clear the entire area,\u201d Wirfel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Norfolk\u2019s piers and ships were put on lock down Monday morning after reports of a possible diver in the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt 9 a.m. this morning a shipboard watch stander reported a possible diver in the water,\u201d said Kelly Wirfel, spokeswoman for Naval Station Norfolk. \u201cThat sighting was confirmed by multiple other watch standers and the situation is still under investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wirfel said the Navy Criminal Investigation Service, Navy explosive ordnance disposal, Naval Station Norfolk base security and fire departments are still on scene investigating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll piers remain on lockdown and ships are in a security alert status,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The base itself is not locked down, only the piers, she said. It remains unclear when the lockdown will be lifted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stay tuned to Navy times for further information as it becomes available.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Naval Station Norfolk\u2019s piers and ships are on lockdown after reports this morning of a possible diver in the water.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":32674,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":12,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,12,26,65],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3087],"class_list":["post-18764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-navy"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"UXMJUO2ZJJBYZEANDGH7DE2Q24","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/2017\/07\/31\/diver-sighting-at-naval-station-norfolk-locks-down-piers\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n