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FISC Yokosuka Provides 'Swift' Support to High-Speed Vessel

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061120-05
Release Date: 11/20/2006 3:18:00 PM

By Bill Doughty, U.S. Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Yokosuka

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- The High-Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift, with its 40-member crew, aluminum hull, and catamaran “wave-piercing” design, made a port call to Yokosuka in mid-November and received logistical support from U.S. Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (FISC) Yokosuka.

Leading Petty Officer of FISC Yokosuka’s Customer Service Division, Storekeeper 1st Class Albert Andah, said his team of Sailors and Japanese employees provided loaner vehicles, crane services, new paint lockers and other services to HSV 2.

“We also provided cell phones for the CO (commanding officer), XO (executive officer), SUPPO (supply officer), and other key leaders,” said Andah. The loaner cell phones can be used to obtain immediate logistical support in an emergency.

FISC Yokosuka provided food provisions and dry goods to HSV 2 Swift during their brief stay. Nov. 17, the team from FISC delivered a new metal storage locker for cleaning supplies and other hazardous materials (HAZMAT).

FISC Yokosuka is conducting a pilot project to increase support for HAZMAT minimization and management for forward-deployed naval forces. The project was initiated in preparation for a generation of smaller, lighter ships such as Swift.

“The way the Navy is going, with smaller crews, they’re going to depend more on FISC to support them because they don’t have the manpower out at sea,” said Andah.

HSVs are more agile, able to move quickly and get underway almost immediately, with no tugboats necessary. HSV 2 Swift is able to stay operational for long periods, with the proper shore support.

“We spend a lot of time in austere locations, said Swift CO, Cmdr. Charles Rock. “The ship allows us to go to places where other vessels can’t because of the draught.”

Rock continued, saying he appreciated FISC's support.

“It’s nice to come home to a naval base where we get some creature comforts and enjoy a unique country like Japan,” Rock added.

Swift has been to the Arctic; operated in riverines in Africa; participated in exercises in Honduras, Scandinavia, and the Pacific; and assisted with relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

At the beginning of the year, HSV 2 played a crucial role in humanitarian disaster relief after the Asian tsunami, in conjunction with FISC Yokosuka’s Singapore Detachment.

“Shore support is extremely critical,” said Rock, “because we draw down our manpower to save valuable human resources. You name the mission, we couldn’t do it without the support of logistics experts like FISC Yokosuka.”

FISC Yokosuka provides direct fleet support for forward-deployed naval units throughout the Western Pacific as part of Commander, Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers and Naval Supply Systems Command. The FISC Yokosuka mission includes, but is not limited to, regional inventory management and contracting, fuel logistics, hazardous material minimization, military postal services, and movement of personal property.