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Essex Completes Productive SRA

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS051008-02
Release Date: 10/8/2005 8:35:00 AM

By Chief Journalist (SW/AW) Christina Johnson, USS Essex Public Affairs

SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- USS Essex (LHD 2) completed a Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) period Oct. 3 by performing sea trials off the coast of southern Japan.

Essex, commanded by Capt. Martin J. Keaney, received numerous repairs and upgrades during the eight-week SRA.

“The SRA was primarily about refreshing Essex and her systems,” said Keaney. “The flight deck, hangar and upper vehicle storage deck all had new non-skid applied, many areas were re-preserved to include both troop walkways, well deck false beach infrastructure, well deck catwalks and bulkheads, and several replenishment-at-sea enclosures - all done by contractors so our ‘Iron Gators’ could concentrate on other ship's force jobs, training and well deserved leave,” he added.

According to the Ship’s Maintenance and Materiel Officer, Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handler) (AW/SW) Roger Benoit, both civilian contractors and the ship’s crew put in many hours to get the ship ready for the continuous deployment schedule which is normal for a Forward Deployed Naval Force asset.

“Contractor man-hours totaled more than 58,000, ship’s force man hours were more than 42,000 with nearly all the 750 SRA and continuous maintenance jobs completed on time or ahead of schedule,” said Benoit.

Time well spent was in the area of habitability. Using U.S. Surface Forces Pacific Habitability Funds, Essex was able to have both the air department berthing and showers and toilets facilities, and operations department berthing shower and toilet facilities renovated. Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class (AW/SW) Keith Heatherly said he was very impressed with the result of the upgrades.

“I think that having a berthing that looks like a giant stateroom is an outstanding thing for all the guys in the berthing,” said Heatherly. “Getting a new berthing is a really nice morale booster, especially for a forward-deployed ship. The racks all have outlets, fans and combination locks installed and are more spacious.”

“Because of the efforts of Team Essex, including ship’s company, SRF (Ship Repair Facility), FISC (Fleet and Industrial Supply Center), CFAS (Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo), Port Ops and all the civilian contractors, Essex is ready!” said an enthusiastic Keaney.

Essex returned to Sasebo, Japan, in April after completing an eight-month deployment that included service in the Persian Gulf and off the coast of Sumatra as part of Operation Unified Assistance. Essex, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship, operates out of Sasebo, Japan, and is the flagship for the Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group.