SAN DIEGO -- The USS Makin Island, the U.S. Navy's newest multi-purpose amphibious assault ship, will arrive at its homeport in San Diego Monday.

The ship will be stationed in San Diego, along with its more than 1,000 sailors and their families, according to Naval Surface Forces public affairs.

Makin Island was designed to carry Marines, amphibious landing craft, hovercraft, helicopters and Harrier jets, according to the Navy.

The ship is the eighth and last in the Wasp Class but the first in the class to feature gas turbine engines and an electric drive.

"At high speeds it runs on gas turbine engines and at lower speeds it runs on an electric drive -- just like a hybrid car," said Capt. Bob Kopas, the ship's skipper. The Navy says the system results in considerable fuel economy.

"Combined with this gas-saving propulsion plant is a new computerized machinery control system which is the most advanced in the fleet today," Kopas said. "It controls everything from ventilation throughout the ship, to engines and ballasting systems."

Makin Island left Pascagoula, Miss., on July 10 and stopped in Brazil, Chile and Peru on its way to San Diego. It is named after Makin Island, which was the scene of an attack on U.S. Marines early in World War II.

A formal commissioning ceremony for the vessel will take place in San Diego Oct. 24.