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USNS Grasp Departs Barbados

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080904-23
Release Date: 9/4/2008 5:32:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kori Melvin

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (NNS) -- Military Sealift Command rescue and salvage ship USNS Grasp (T-ARS 51), crewed by 26 civil service mariners and a detachment of four Navy personnel, along with 14 attached specially-trained rescue and salvage Navy divers, departed Barbados Sept. 2.

U.S. Navy divers participating in the Navy Dive – Southern Partnership Station 2008 (ND-SPS 08) exchanged diving techniques with Regional Security Service (RSS) divers, from Antigua/Barbuda, St. Lucia, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Barbados, St. Vincent, and Grenada, during their 30-day port visit in Barbados.

U.S. Navy divers came from Navy Expeditionary Combat Commands (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. Their mission was to trade diving procedures and learn from one another to ensure interoperability for coalition operations in the future.

During the first two weeks, they shared their emergency diving procedures such as: unconscious diver, buddy breathing and lost diver. They also demonstrated hull and pier inspections, multiple search techniques and light-weight underwater salvage methods.

The following two weeks consisted of more in-depth topics including, self contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) maintenance, operational planning and advanced medicine. They discussed methods for maintaining SCUBA equipment, how to plan dives from the beginning to the end and had hands-on experiences with the recompression chamber to treat diver-related illnesses.

"I have learned an exceptional amount about diving over the last month," stated Able Body Seaman Jihan Lampkin, an RSS diver for St. Vincent. "This has been a very pleasant experience, and I look forward to working with the U.S. again in the future."

According to Chief Warrant Officer James Dertilis, a company commander for MDSU 2, the divers conducted more than 300 individual dives, contributing to nearly 150 hours of bottom time.

Although the time in Barbados was mostly devoted to diving operations, the crew also participated in two community relations projects.

Grasp hosted 13 Sea Cadets and two officers from the Barbados Coast Guard for an interactive tour of the ship Aug. 25. The Sea Cadets program is an independent youth group that works directly with Barbados' armed forces to promote discipline in their lives. The crew exposed the cadets to life on board a T-ARS ship and explained the mission of Navy divers.

Grasp's crew also delivered donated toys, skateboards, rollerblades, knee pads and safety helmets, as well as toiletries and personal care items, to the Auntie Olga's Needy Children Fund. This is a program that was founded by Olga "Auntie Olga" Lopes-Seale in 1953. She has been accepting donations and distributing them to local needy children for more than 55 years now.

"These things will not only bring joy and happiness to the children's lives but a sense of relief for the parents," stated Lopes-Seale. "I can't tell you enough how grateful I am for all the donations the USNS Grasp has made here."

Grasp continues on to St. Vincent, the sixth of seven island nations they will visit, during their 90-day deployment in the Eastern Caribbean in support of ND-SPS 08.

ND-SPS 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.

USNS Grasp is under operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO)/ U.S. Fourth Fleet. As the Navy component command of SOUTHCOM, NAVSO's mission is to direct U.S. Naval forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment.

Fourth Fleet is the numbered fleet assigned to NAVSO, exercising operational control of assigned forces. Fourth Fleet conducts the full spectrum of Maritime Security Operations in support of U.S. objectives and security cooperation activities that promote coalition building and deter aggression.

For more news from Military Sealift Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/MSC/.