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Juneau Faces Challenges of Major Repair Period

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050511-29
Release Date: 5/11/2005 11:03:00 PM

By Lt. j.g. Heath Alvarez, USS Juneau Public Affairs

SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- Four weeks after her return in April from an eight-month deployment in the Persian Gulf, USS Juneau (LPD 10) is undergoing a six-week Selected Restricted Availability (SRA).

The SRA is an opportunity for the ship to effect much-needed repairs and equipment overhauls that only through the extraordinary efforts of the ship’s crew have held up so remarkably well under Juneau’s high operational tempo these past few years.

Originally scheduled for summer 2004, Juneau’s current repair period was cut short last year because of the ship’s surge deployment to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

“Nearly 500 contracted jobs, as well as around 500 ship’s force jobs went undone last year,” said Angel Ambito, Juneau port engineer. “Many of those jobs are going to be revisited, in addition to tackling the new jobs brought on by the last deployment. This year, there are more than 900 contracted jobs to complete at the cost of $12 million.”

Even though the extensive repair work has caused air conditioning, running water and sewage to be shut down temporarily, the ship’s condition doesn’t mean critical training and the other aspects of the lives of the ship’s crew come to a stop. Many Sailors are even enjoying a bit of post-deployment leave. Balancing school, leave, and shipyard work during an SRA can be quite a challenge.

“Trying to plan daily events such as meals or work lists can be an arduous task,” acknowledged Culinary Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Rodney Stokes. “So you have to be flexible.”

Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (SW) John Raymer was equally philosophical.

“SRA has been a chaotic madhouse with all of the needed work going on," he said. "However, we’re getting a lot of updated equipment installed that will help the ship in the long run.”

Juneau’s Sailors and Japanese shipyard workers have just more than one month until the scheduled end of the SRA. Even most junior members believe the maintenance team can achieve this deadline.

“An incredible amount of work is being done. The [Japanese contractors] are working very hard, as are the Sailors," said Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Larry Seefeldt. "When it is all said and done, we’ll have this ship in tip-top shape, and it’ll be looking outstanding.”

“The work is hard and the days seem to go on forever, but the ship is really starting to look good where jobs have been completed," Ship’s Serviceman Seaman Corey Waldusky added. "I’m sure the whole ship will look great when the SRA is finished.”

Juneau is part of the forward deployed amphibious ready group, operating out of Sasebo, Japan, and is the Navy’s only forward deployed amphibious transport dock ship.