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USS Frank Cable Begins Dry Docked Phase Maintenance Availability

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120404-21
4/4/2012

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Chris Salisbury, USS Frank Cable Public Affairs

PORTLAND, Ore. (NNS) -- The submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) entered dry-dock after an eight year period of tending submarines in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility, March 22.

The dry-docking is a standard maintenance procedure to preserve the hull and engineering areas of the ship.

"We are docking on our eight year dry-dock cycle which requires us to inspect and repair the ship's hull and hull structure and refurbish the propulsion shaft," said Cmdr. Timothy Sparks, executive officer of the Frank Cable. "The ship's maintenance cycle keeps the ship fully operational through her service life, which is projected to 2030."

Sparks said the ship will be in dry-dock for 70 days to fix the known structural work in the engineering and propulsion shaft areas.

"It is vitally important that the tender complete these repairs and get back to the western Pacific to provide the repair services to the Guam homeported SSNs and other deployed submarines and surface vessels," said Sparks. "This overhaul will get the ship back into shape to support for eight more years and allow the USS Emory S. Land to continue to provide tender services in the far western Pacific and 5th Fleet."

Sparks also commented on the crew's hard work and effort towards maintaining security and cleanliness onboard the ship during the maintenance period.

"The crew has performed superbly here in Portland; the shift work schedule can be arduous and they are holding up well," said Sparks. "While the overhaul is just beginning, we are looking forward to it completing on time and getting back to Guam."

"The shift work was hard at first, but now it's just part of our daily routine" said Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Trinity Cain, a Sailor assigned to the Frank Cable. "Portland is a nice change; there's a lot to do here."

Following the dry-docking and maintenance, sea trials will be conducted prior to Frank Cable transitioning back to Guam.

Frank Cable is temporarily relieved from conducting maintenance of submarines and surface vessels deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility by the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39).