• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Essex Watches for Marine Mammals During Talisman Saber

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090718-08
Release Date: 7/18/2009 11:26:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Taurean Alexander, USS Essex Public Affairs

USS ESSEX, At Sea (NNS) -- Watchstanders aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) explained July 15 the importance of keeping a lookout for the diverse marine life found off the coast of Australia while participating in exercise Talisman Saber 2009 (TS09).

Essex has coordinated with Australian Defense Force (ADF) to ensure that planned activities for exercise TS09 are conducted in a manner that does not harm endangered species and other environmental resources.

"Marine life is something we are very conscious of, and we are committed to doing everything within our capabilities to protect it," said Capt. Brent Canady, Essex's commanding officer. "I'm very confident that, if we follow the proper procedures, we will successfully complete Talisman Saber without harming any marine life."

The first line of defense against these hazards is the ship's lookout watches.

Essex's deck department Sailors must be qualified to stand any of the lookout watches, which involves completing an extensive personal qualification standard (PQS), said Chief Boatswain's Mate (SW/AW) Christopher White.

"Our guys have a marine mammal chart that displays pictures of many mammals they may encounter while standing watch," said White. "It's imperative for our guys to utilize the chart because we need to be doing everything in our power to prevent an accident."

Navywide lookout training emphasizes marine conservation and includes a marine species awareness video that provides lookouts information to identify the presence of marine mammals and their behaviors. It emphasizes that larger marine mammals pose a risk of collision, and that all sightings must be reported.

"Before we're even able to stand a watch by ourselves, we complete a section of personnel qualification standards (PQS) dedicated to marine mammals," said Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Nakinte Noel. "Between the PQS and the mammal charts, I'd say everyone is on the same page as far as knowing what we're looking for."

The training also provides lookouts the ability to identify different species of marine mammals most commonly encountered around ships in certain bodies of water.

While participating in TS09 and transiting the Great Barrier Reef, Essex will keep a watchful eye for more than 30 species of dolphins, whales and dugongs, as well as six species of sea turtles.

TS09 is a biennial, combined training activity designed to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting combined operations. The exercise is geared toward improving combat readiness and interoperability between Australian and U.S. forces.

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/.