[Mariner]

I appreciate the humor.
Thank you.

However, for the purpose of edification, 16knots (18.5mph) is a decent transit speed for a ship that exceeds 400ft in length.

Any faster and bumping into 30ft swells puts unnecessary stress on the ship AND the crew. It burns too much fuel too.

Those big seas are not found in the littorals like the South China Sea. However, there’s 7,000 miles of open ocean to get there.

7,000 miles.

[BlueLancer]

I remember my Youngster Cruise aboard the USS CORONADO (Norfolk-Europe [Portsmouth, Rotterdam, and Kiel] 1973). While I did serve my duty on bridge lookout and “Midshipman of the Watch”, I spent most of my time down in the engine room, learning how to scrape down the boiler bricks and repairing pumps. I don’t remember any sense of urgency in the speed that we were maintaining to make the crossing. My best guess would be probably somewhere between 12 and 16 knots.

[Psalm 73]

"Any faster and bumping into 30ft swells puts unnecessary stress on the ship AND the crew."

Worked with a guy who was a hydraulic mechanic on the Enterprise (carrier, not the star ship) - he said scary is seeing even her struggle through some mammoth Pacific ocean swells.
I surely respect your craft, sir. (no pun intended)