Per fess Azure (Dark Blue) and Gules an anchor enfiled by a cog wheel Or, all within an orle of sixteen mullets Argent.
From a wreath Or and Azure (Dark Blue), a rose Proper surmounted by a demi-trident Sable.
Behind the shield, four swords--a U.S. Navy Officer's sword, U.S. Marine Corps Officer's Mameluke, U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer's cutlass and a U.S. Marine Corps Non-commissioned Officer's sword, all in saltire, points downward.
A tripartite scroll Gules edged Or and inscribed "FIRST RESPONDERS BRAVE AND DETERMINED" Argent.
Red and gold is representative of the embarked Marines while dark blue and gold represents the traditional mission of a deep-water Navy. The cog wheel, a symbol of manufacturing, is taken from the City of Portland, Oregon, seal and represents the city's shipbuilding industry which built Victory and Liberty ships during World War II. The gold anchor acknowledges the city's long standing connection to the maritime industry and the U.S. Navy. The sixteen white stars pay tribute to the battle stars awarded to USS PORTLAND (CA-33) for her combat service during World War II.
In 2003, the year of USS Portland's (LSD-37) decommissioning, the city council officially nicknamed Portland "The City of Roses" by a unanimous vote. The yellow rose alludes to the unwavering support of the families of the crew. The trident is colored black to symbolize determination, and the three prongs depict LPD 27 as the third ship to be named for the City of Portland. Together, the rose and trident symbolize the significant contributions made by the citizens of Portland to the warfighting effort.
The U.S. Navy Officer sword, U.S. Marine Corps Mameluke, and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps enlisted swords symbolize the synergy between the two services. Furthermore, the placement of the swords represents the leadership and direction provided by commissioned officers, combined with the strength and support of the senior enlisted cadre, forging the foundation of USS Portland's crew and the Navy-Marine Corps Team.