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Harpers Ferry Completes INSURV

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061220-06
Release Date: 12/20/2006 12:40:00 PM

By Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Charles Green, Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

SASEBO, JAPAN (NNS) -- USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) successfully completed a material readiness inspection by the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) Dec. 13.

INSURV is scheduled every five years ensuring a ship’s overall operational readiness for deployment. After months of preparations, INSURV inspectors arrived aboard Harpers Ferry Dec. 11, ready to give a thorough survey of the ship's architecture.

“We’re working with the engineman, analyzing and checking for discrepancies. The ship is in good condition, but we still have more work to do,” said Lt. Cmdr. Keith T. Ransom, lead auxiliary inspector.

Ransom has been an INSURV inspector for two years and has inspected nearly 70 ships including the newly constructed USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).

In the weeks before the inspection, tiger teams worked all over the ship to repair equipment, to touch up paint jobs, and to give a good cleaning where needed. That, along with the routine work of maintaining a high level of cleanliness throughout the ship, helped.

“We used the needle gun, sanded and cleaned areas needing improvement. Although it was laborious, I enjoyed working with my shipmates and readying the ship for INSURV,” said Yeoman Seaman Apprentice Evan Seller.

Chief Yeoman (SW/AW) Arthur King was picked as a tiger team supervisor and had experience with INSURV inspector’s scrutiny of ships.

“It was hard work, but it was satisfying and informative when the INSURV inspectors let us know what the ship has been doing well and what it hasn’t been doing,” said King.

While Harpers Ferry Sailors were relieved the inspection had passed, they remained committed to keep the ship at a high standard.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to prove what the Navy has known all along, those of us at the tip of the spear have the right mix of people to keep our ships deployable and ready to answer the call,” said Commanding Officer, Cmdr. David L. Bossert.

Harpers Ferry is part of the Navy’s forward-deployed amphibious force serving 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.