Essex Make a Pit Stop in Okinawa
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS061016-12
Release Date: 10/16/2006 11:11:00 AM
From USS Essex Public Affairs
WHITE BEACH NAVAL FACILITY, Okinawa (NNS) -- When USS Essex (LHD 2) made a visit here Oct. 12, for a quick pit stop, receiving fuel from the U.S. Army.
Providing a fresh upload of diesel fuel marine (DFM) was the Army’s 505th Quartermaster Battalion who is responsible for providing support of bulk petroleum products to all Department of Defense (DOD) agencies on the island of Okinawa, and the Navy is one of its customers.
According to Engineman 2nd Class Jovaunn Rogers of White Beach Port Services Office, the request for fuel is made prior to the ship’s arrival. The fuel is then brought to White Beach and put into fuel tanks on the beach.
“The Army tankers receive the fuel right here from the fuel tanks, and then deliver it directly to the ships from the pier,” said Rogers.
Essex was able to bring on 475,000 gallons of DFM from the Army tanker, though Essex crew members said the process was a little bit different—and took a little longer—than they’re used to.
Using any kind of tanker, let alone an Army tanker, to fill a Navy ship is something normally done only at overseas locations, said port operations officials.
Due to the concern of a possible oil spill, most Navy ships in the United States don’t refuel in port, according to Lt. Cmdr. Jerry Chapmon, Essex’s main propulsion assistant (MPA).
“With the lack of opportunities to refuel at sea we have gotten very proficient at in-port refueling,” added Chapmon.
Essex is the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship and is the flagship for the Sasebo, Japan-based Essex Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), which serves under Commander, Task Force 76. Task Force 76 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force and is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.
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