Essex Focuses on Environment While Refueling Underway
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090624-13
Release Date: 6/24/2009 3:34:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Greg Johnson, USS Essex Public Affairs
USS ESSEX, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) successfully conducted an underway replenishment (UNREP) with fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Ericsson (T-AO-194) June 21.
During the UNREP, Essex took on more than 400,000 gallons of fuel. Transferring that much fuel, while traveling at a speed of 13 knots, presented Sailors with the challenge of ensuring the safety of the marine environment.
"Environmental protection is a major concern for us at every level of the chain of command," said Capt. Brent Canady, Essex's commanding officer. "We take every precaution possible to ensure our underway replenishments are conducted safely and our Sailors are prepared to perform replenishment operations with the utmost respect for the ocean environment."
Essex Sailors in various departments, specifically engineering and deck department, take widespread precautions and undergo extensive training to ensure Pacific waters are safe during these demanding evolutions.
Sailors working at replenishment at sea (RAS) stations provide the first line of defense against fuel spills. They are charged with fastening fuel lines to the ship's fuel pipes and monitoring the transfer firsthand as fuel passes through the ship's fuel piping system into the fuel tanks. These Sailors constantly survey the situation and are prepared to combat spill scenarios. Spill kits are always on hand and all deck drains that could possibly leak spilled fuel into the ocean are sealed.
"It is very important that everyone knows what they are doing out there," said Chief Warrant Officer Dandon Fonner, Essex's boatswain. "We ensure that only qualified personnel are present and we do a walkthrough the day prior to all of our UNREPs."
Before participating in an UNREP, deck department personnel must meet a demanding personal qualification standard (PQS), which requires Sailors to observe all aspects of the process prior to qualification. For Sailors like Seaman Fredrick Smith, who has been a part of more than a dozen UNREPs since reporting to Essex last year, the preparation has been essential.
"You couldn't come out here and just start doing this kind of work," said Smith. "There's a lot going on and you need to be aware of everything happening around you to make sure that nothing goes wrong."
According to Fonner, proper preparation may be the foundation of a successful UNREP, but it's not the only factor.
"It's imperative to maintain communications in a process like this where safety is a concern," said Fonner.
Communications are maintained between the RAS stations and the refueling ship via radio, and signal personnel are situated across from each other on each ship to communicate through visual signals. In addition, a phone talker is also present, who has direct communication to the refueling ship's bridge, safety officer and senior deck personnel. A direct line of communication is also established between both ship's bridge watches.
"A hand-held radio is an ideal form of communication because they are fast, easy and reliable," said Fonner.
While deck department Sailors are busy topside, Essex's engineers are hard at work below decks. In fact, before the first drop of fuel is transferred, engineers have already gone through an extensive oil spill prevention checklist, making sure that all equipment is calibrated properly, the system is properly aligned and everyone involved is qualified to do their job. Once fueling begins, they constantly monitor pressure gauges and fuel tank levels for any signs of leaks or overflow.
"Preventing a spill is very important. It's our top priority," said Machinist Mate 2nd Class Nathan Colbert, an Essex oil lab engineer. "We all need to be on the same page and paying attention so that we're not overfilling."
In addition, the engineering department also posts lookouts at various locations outside the skin of the ship to continuously monitor the water and air. They are trained to report any fuel sightings or odors at a moment's notice.
Extensive preparation and acute awareness pays off each time Essex successfully completes a RAS, allowing her to remain at a high level of operational readiness and preparedness in the 7th Fleet's Area of Responsibility.
"This UNREP was successful," said Fonner. "It was the first time we've received fuel since replacing our aft fuel receiver and we didn't spill a drop."
Essex is the lead ship of the only forward-deployed U.S. Amphibious Ready Group and serves as the flagship for Combined Task Force (CTF) 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force commander. CTF 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with a detachment in Sasebo, Japan.
For more news from USS Essex (LHD 2), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd2/.
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