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Grasp Departs St. Kitts, Continues Partnership Mission

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080731-01
Release Date: 7/31/2008 12:40:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (EXW/DV/PJ) Kori Melvin, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs

ZANTE PORT, St. Kitts (NNS) -- USNS Grasp (T-ARS 51), manned by 26 civil service mariners from Military Sealift Command along with 14 specially-trained Navy rescue and salvage divers, departed St. Kitts July 26.

U.S. Navy divers participating in the Navy Dive-Global Fleet Station 2008 (ND-GFS 08) exchanged diving techniques with regional security system (RSS) divers from St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard Station during their three-day port visit on the island.

U.S. Navy divers from the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command's (NECC) Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit (EODESU) Group 2, and Underwater Construction Teams (UCT) 1 and 2, worked with divers from St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard on a underwater ship's husbandry project and conducted hull and pier inspections.

"It was a great opportunity to work with the divers from St. Kitts and Nevis," stated Navy Diver 3rd Class Kyle Duncan, from EODESU 2. "It was interesting to compare their diving techniques to ours."

According to Senior Chief Navy Diver (MDV/SW) Billy Gilbert, from MDSU 2, Company 2-3, the ship's husbandry project, the replacement of a bent propeller on one of St. Kitts' Coast Guard vessels, turned out to be difficult, but they shared ideas, worked together as a team, and got the job done.

"In the long run, I think this mission will prove beneficial because of the working relationships we have built here. We have learned each other's techniques, and this will help each of us in future diving operations."

Grasp continues on to the Common Wealth of Dominica, the third of seven island nations she will visit, during her 90-day deployment in the Eastern Caribbean in support of ND-GFS 08.

ND-GFS 08 will focus on enhancing cooperative partnerships with regional maritime services and improving operational readiness for all participating services while supporting the global maritime security strategy in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.

For more news from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/necc/.