Hundreds of local residents in Yokosuka, located 30 mi/50 km south of Tokyo, staged protests on 25 September 2008 against the arrival to the port city of the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington. The locals expressed concern about possible radiation pollution and an increase in crime due to the presence of the carrier’s crew. Meanwhile, approximately 2,000 U.S. military personnel and their families turned out to welcome the new vessel.