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USS Grapple Transfers to MSC

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060717-02
Release Date: 7/17/2006 11:46:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Emily Zamora, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- The recovery and salvage ship USS Grapple (ARS 53) was decommissioned and transferred to Military Sealift Command (MSC) in a ceremony at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek July 13 after completing 20 years of accomplished service.

At the ceremony, Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Brand, Grapple’s last commanding officer, turned over command to Capt. Curtis Smith, a seasoned civilian mariner who has commanded almost 20 ships in his 27-year career with MSC.

“It’s really neat as a lieutenant commander in the Navy to be able to command one of these ships,” said Brand. “It’s the largest ship that a lieutenant commander can command. It’s been a great tour.”

Although Grapple was decommissioned, the ship will continue to complete salvage and recovery missions as USNS Grapple (T-ARS 53). It will house only 30 crew members, as opposed to the previous 100, and will carry a small detachment of Navy divers.

Grapple completed her last deployment in July 2004 after spending five months in the Mediterranean Sea, in support of the global war on terrorism and conducting 12 port visits in six different countries. While in the Mediterranean, Grapple divers also conducted salvage training with Tunisian divers.

“We try to do community relations projects in any city or country we go to, and we try to work on military-to-military relationships,” commented Brand.

The decommissioning ceremony marked the loss of the Navy’s last recovery and salvage ship on the East Coast. Grapple’s sister ship, USS Grasp (ARS 51), was decommissioned in January.

“The last East Coast salvage ship is going away, and from a diving standpoint, it was a huge part of a lot of efforts for the last 20 years,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (DSW/SW/PJ) David Manning, a diver aboard Grapple.

According to Brand, one of Grapple’s most memorable missions as of late was its work in opening critical shipping lanes in Mobile Bay, Ala., in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

“It’s not very often that you get deployed to support fellows U.S. citizens,” said Brand. “It hit close to home.”

Commander of Military Sealift Fleet Support Command, Rear Adm. Carol Pottenger, ensured the mariners taking over Grapple that they will have plenty of work to do.

“Stand ready,” said Pottenger. “Count on it, your country will soon call.”

For more news from around the fleet, visit www.navy.mil.