U.S. Navy sailors aboard the USS Makin Island (LHD 8) render honors while manning the rails as the ship pulls into Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 3, 2009. The Makin Island departed Pascagoula, Miss., on July 10 and is circumnavigating South America, via the Strait of Magellan, to its new homeport of San Diego. During its transit, the ship is scheduled to make port visits in Chile and Peru to support U.S. Southern Command objectives for enhanced maritime security and to share methods and training that will build on U.S. and partner nations' interoperability and relationships. The Makin Island is the Navy's last Wasp-class amphibious assault ship to be built and is scheduled to be commissioned in October.