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Carter Hall's Boat Engineers Contribute to MSO

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081229-01
Release Date: 12/29/2008 3:43:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW/SW) Flordeliz Valerio, Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group Public Affairs

USS CARTER HALL, At Sea (NNS) -- The visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) is an integral part of the ship's overall mission to conduct maritime security operations (MSO) in the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR).

To ensure the team is capable of performing MSO, the boat engineers aboard Carter Hall provide critical maintenance to keep the team's crafts ready to carry out those missions.

Along with maintaining Carter Hall's main engines, boat engineers also preserve, inspect, repair and fuel Carter Hall's seven-meter rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB), 11-meter RHIB and the landing craft personnel large (PL) boats used by the VBSS team as patrol boats.

Chief Engineman (SW) Janet Bennett, from Fort Pierce, Fla., said that the primary duty of a boat engineer is to ensure the boats are in a ready condition at all times.

"We have to maintain the readiness of the boat in order for the ship to fulfill its mission," said Bennett. "Our maintenance inspections consist of checking all components of the boats and liquid levels such as oil level and fuel."

Engineman 2nd Class (SW) Daniel Le Vans, from Sperryville, Va., said inspections are important processes to keep the small boats in good working condition.

"We make sure the fluid temperature and pressures stay within the parameters," said Le Vans. "This is to keep the boat in good running condition from full throttle to just idling."

The boat engineers attend a variety of schools, as well as an extensive on-the-job training regimen, to qualify for the work they do.

Engineman 2nd Class (SW) Joseph Huckel, from Norwood, Pa., attended additional schooling to qualify in operating the specific type of engines that some of the craft use.

"We go through training and qualifications in order to learn how to troubleshoot the different engines," said Huckel. "Attending a 'C' School is required to be technically proficient on Cummins and Detroit engines."

During VBSS operations, a boat engineer rides along with the VBSS team in case of emergencies.

"We take our job seriously," said Le Vans. "We ensure that the VBSS team gets to where they need to go and gets back to the ship safely."

Carter Hall is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations with the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group to conduct MSO. MSO help develop security in the maritime environment. From security arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

For more news from Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group, visit www.navy.mil/local/iwoesg/.