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Frank Cable Divers Receive New Support Vessel

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110919-06
9/19/2011

By Damage Controlman 3rd Class Delesia Buchanan, USS Frank Cable Public Affairs

POLARIS POINT, Guam (NNS) -- Divers assigned to submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) became some of the first in the Navy to receive one of two new 50-foot Armstrong Marine custom dive support vessels Sept. 19.

According to Chief Navy Diver Jeremiah Lively, these vessels will allow divers to perform surface supplied diving (SSD) operations in support of underwater ship's husbandry work on tended units.

"I couldn't be happier about the addition of these boats to our mission readiness," said Lively.

The new support vessels will increase efficiency by allowing divers to perform faster operations without having to stow gear or conduct post-dive maintenance on the SSD system or the diver's gear when repositioning to another location, Lively said.

"Having the capability to move from one dive job to the next without having to break down dive site every time is just one of the many ways this boat will greatly increase productivity," said Lively.

The vessels will let divers moor to the tending unit, allowing for easier and faster submarine repair. They are created for a team that may be on board for hours at a time, providing divers with comforts such as an air conditioned lounge, toilet and shower.

"The boat has its own generator, compressors, depth finder and [Global Positioning System]," said Navy Diver 1st Class Mark Martinez. "Everything is there. We don't have to order anything else to accommodate our job."

Prior to receiving their new dive vessel, Frank Cable divers used two trailers to store their gear and perform operations. Martinez said this was difficult because it required divers to walk back and forth from the pier to the tending unit to acquire extra equipment, tools and parts.

Before the divers can use these support vessels, they must first satisfy job qualification requirements.

Another dive support vessel will assist the Navy's other submarine tender, USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), which is forward deployed to Diego Garcia.

Frank Cable conducts maintenance and support of submarines and surface ships deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.