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Harpers Ferry Maintains Ship, Sailors

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050928-03
Release Date: 9/28/2005 9:20:00 AM

By Journalist 2nd Class (SW) Brian P. Biller, USS Harpers Ferry Public Affairs

SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) entered into its Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) period Sept. 19, a time set aside for major maintenance work.

In addition to maintenance, the ship’s SRA period will provide new equipment, updated berthing facilities as well as give the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship an opportunity to send its Sailors to advanced vocational training schools.

“We’re hitting SRA wholeheartedly from the onset...from the mast to the main spaces,” said Harpers Ferry SRA Coordinator Ensign Mike D. Ryan. Ryan said some of the major repairs will include overhauling engines, replacing almost all of the ventilation on the ship, installing a new boat davit and new boats to go along with it. The two large patrol landing craft (LCPL) boats that the ship has now will be replaced with two rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB).

“It’s a marked improvement over our LCPLs,” said Ryan, adding that one of the RHIBs is so spacious, it even has its own onboard restroom.

In addition to the new and overhauled equipment, Sailors can look forward to some quality-of-life improvements such as berthing space improvements.

“It’s a complete rehabilitation of four berthing compartments, two crew lounges and the aft head,” Ryan said.

“Even with all the alterations, installations and improvements, the job is only half-done,” said Harpers Ferry Commanding Officer Cmdr. Marlin C. Anthony.

“A great warship is nothing without great warfighters,” said Anthony. “During this availability we are ensuring that both our ship and our crew are ready for the future. Our training agenda for Harpers Ferry Sailors is very aggressive, but it will ensure that we are ready to meet the challenges of a changing world.”

“The ship’s focus has now been placed on successfully completing the Inter-Deployment Training Cycle (IDTC),” said Harpers Ferry Training Officer Lt. j.g. Derek R. Mason. “Safety, training and preservation are our top three priorities.”

Mason said the ship has requested more than $500,000 to send crew members to training schools, and currently has Sailors signed up for 471 schools in the coming year. Many of these are scheduled over the next three months.

“Some people are going to two and three schools for professional development and shipboard certifications,” Mason explained.

The schools range from basic damage control wet trainers to air traffic control school. Presently, several Harpers Ferry Sailors are attending Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) non-compliant boarding team school.

“We’re excited about the school schedule and the strong shipboard training schedule we have in place to prepare us for a successful training cycle,” said Anthony.

“It’s very difficult to take the time out with such a heavy [operations tempo],” said Harpers Ferry Command Master Chief (SW/AW) Darryl L. Brandt, adding that the ship spent more than 300 days out of the last year deployed away from Sasebo. “These guys deserve the opportunity to improve their skill sets, and in the forward-deployed Navy that’s often difficult.”

“This will be a great time to get the ship and the crew in the corner of the boxing ring to recharge for a while until that bell rings again - and it will,” Brandt added.

Forward deployed out of Sasebo, Japan, Harpers Ferry is part of the world’s only forward-deployed amphibious ready group.