Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.



On Display – British Tramp Steamer SS Drumgeith

MSW crew-mate Peter Fulgoney (PeterF) shares a fine gallery of images of his fabulous rendition (and his "MSW Camouflaged Ships Campaign" entry) of the British Tramp Steamer SS Drumgeith in this "On Display" feature.




Ship Commissioning Ceremony Held to Officially Transfer US Navy Ship to Chile
Source: VSE Corporation

ALEXANDRIA, Va. --- VSE Corporation is pleased to announce that the Chilean National Flag was raised Wednesday (February 10) on the Chilean Navy’s newly acquired oiler, AO 52 Almirante Montt. The ship, the former USNS Andrew J. Higgins (T-AO 190), was officially commissioned in a ceremony held pier side at Atlantic Marine’s Shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.



“The country of Chile is very pleased to have a new oiler,” said Chilean Ambassador Jose Mario Goni. “We take our cooperation with the United States very seriously and I want to thank everyone for a very professional, successful transfer and for making all this possible.”

Almirante Montt will support the U.S. Navy fleet whenever the need arises by providing underway replenishment for ships operating in the southern pacific hemisphere for the next 10 years through a memorandum of understanding between the two Navies.

VSE CEO/President/COO Maurice “Mo” Gauthier who commented, “The commissioning of Almirante Montt was a magnificent ceremony marking an important milestone in the ship’s reactivation and highlighting the outstanding teamwork between the Chilean Navy, U.S. Navy, and VSE’s N*STAR teammates.” VSE has been Naval Sea System Command’s prime contractor for the Navy’s ship Foreign Military Sales Program since it was initially outsourced in 1995.

Chilean Vice Admiral Junge commented, “The crew is excited to man the ship and this acquisition is very important for our Navy. We are very pleased with the perfect support of the U.S. Navy, VSE and Atlantic Marine who were here to assist and bring the ship to life. ”

The ship was towed from Suisun Bay (near San Francisco) arriving in Mobile November 2. The shipyard and VSE technical representatives reactivated the equipment and in some cases replaced equipment to make the ship safe to sail. The VSE N*STAR team taught the crew how to operate and maintain all shipboard equipment and systems. The crew also received hands-on-training by repairing/replacing equipment, including shipboard damage control systems.

“This is my first official day as commanding officer and on behalf of all the officers and crew of the Almirante Montt--it is a tremendous milestone in our lives and careers. I think this will be my last ship command, so it is very emotional,” said Chilean Navy Captain Gunckel. After the ceremony, Captain Gunckel personally welcomed aboard every member of his crew.

During the ceremony, crew members sang the Chilean national anthem while raising their country's flag above the 677-foot-long/97.5-foot wide Almirante Montt that has a maximum speed of 20 knots (24 mph). She has a cargo capacity of 180,000 barrels of oil.
U.S. Navy 4th Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Guillory said the transfer of the ship is a win for both countries. “I think it gives Chile’s Navy tremendous capability, not only in replenishing their ships, but also in their ability to do humanitarian disaster relief and other events that occur in this region of the world.”

USNS Andrew J. Higgins was commissioned a U.S. Navy ship in October 1987. While in service she was operated by Military Sealift Command (MSC) and supported U.S. Navy ships in the Pacific, Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean.

First phase of the reactivation work is expected to be completed in early March. After sea worthiness trials are accomplished, the ship will begin her voyage to Chile. Upon arrival at the ASMAR Shipyard in Chile, the second phase of work will begin to activate the underway replenishment equipment to permit the transfer of fuel to other ships at sea. Upon completion of the second phase of work, Almirante Montt will replace the replenishment ship AO 51 Arauncano.


High Speed Caribbean Patrol Boats Completed
Source: Austal

Maritime security in the Caribbean region has been bolstered with the delivery of six high speed aluminum patrol craft for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG).

Capable of speeds greater than 40 knots and armed with general purpose machine guns and a 20mm cannon, the 30 meter vessels - designed and built by Australian shipbuilder Austal - will expand the TTCG’s surveillance and enforcement capability in the region.



The on-schedule, on-budget delivery of the fleet was achieved less than two years from the initial order, with the final vessels arriving in Trinidad and Tobago via heavy lift ship on January 18.

Director of Trinidad’s Defense Transformation and Integration Secretariat, CDRE Garnet Best, said the vessels would be used to create a security blanket around the waters of Trinidad and Tobago.

“We are confident that the speed of the vessels will contribute to their effectiveness in the interdiction of illegal drugs,” CDRE Best said.

“These vessels have been very well designed to perform numerous roles including customs and immigration border control, fire services and prisoner transport, protection of our marine environment as well as protection of our oil and gas resources.”

As well as superior maneuverability and speed, the patrol boats benefit from the reduced structural weight, improved fuel economy and enhanced corrosion resistance that typifies Austal’s aluminum platforms.

Austal is now set to deliver a five-year comprehensive maintenance and support services program for the vessels as part of an additional contract. Included in this will be scheduled planned and preventative maintenance support, unscheduled maintenance, management and performance of annual surveys and maintenance periods, as well as shore based engineering support.

Austal Director – Sales and Australian Operations, Andrew Bellamy, said the six-vessel fleet reinforced not only Austal’s unique brand of high performance defense platforms but also the importance of customized vessel support packages.

“These state-or-the-art patrol platforms will play an integral role in modernizing Caribbean maritime security,” Mr. Bellamy said.

“Ensuring that the right support structures are in place can be as important as the vessels themselves. From pre-delivery crew training to ongoing vessel maintenance via our newly established service hub in Trinidad, Austal is pleased to be providing an all-inclusive support package to the TTCG.”

The vessels are named “TTS Scarlet Ibis”, “TTS Hibiscus”, “TTS Humming Bird”, “TTS Chaconia”, “TTS Poui” and “TTS Teak”.

A comprehensive crew training program, facilitated by Austal at its Western Australian facility, was also undertaken during the construction process by more than 90 TTCG personnel. Austal is currently delivering further training on-site in Trinidad.


Sister Ships Perform Awesome Double Act
Source: Royal Navy

The Royal Navy’s two newest warships – formidable air defense destroyers HMS Daring and HMS Dauntless – have performed side-by-side at sea for the first time.

The Type 45 destroyers successfully completed a series of complex maneuvers south of the Isle of Wight today (February 15).

The pair sailed at high speeds to simulate the defense of a high-value warship and also put their communications equipment to the test as a warm-up to intensive operational sea training later this year.



Captain Richard Powell, HMS Dauntless’ Commanding Officer, said: “Today marks a significant step forward in the development of the Type 45 class. Conducting joint trials in this way will further enhance the potent capability of the Type 45. It also marks an important step in the delivery of the 21st century Navy.”

“We have been able to build on the successes of HMS Daring over the last year and in HMS Dauntless we are delivering a warship that the Royal Navy and the nation will be really proud of.”

Commander in Chief Fleet, Admiral Sir Trevor Soar, who was embarked in HMS Dauntless witnessing the historic moment said: “I’m really positive about these ships. I have seen them from the very beginning, through the design and planning to the trials.”

“It is very much like watching the children growing up. They have been great kids and now they are growing up to be great adults.”

The Portsmouth-based ships will work together for two further days before going their separate ways and continuing their respective trials programs.

HMS Daring was commissioned into the RN last July and is due to formally enter service later this year.

Meanwhile HMS Dauntless will be commissioned in June and is expected to enter operational service in 2011.


BACKGROUND NOTES:
-- The Type 45 Destroyer is the largest and most powerful Air Defense Destroyer ever built for the Royal Navy. It will provide UK Defense with a world-class military capability.

-- The prime role of the Type 45 Destroyer will be Air Defense: protecting UK national and allied/coalition forces against enemy aircraft and missiles.

-- In addition to its word class Air Defense capability, one of the Type 45’s greatest assets is its versatility. The Type 45 will be able to act as a base platform for a deployable Headquarters, from which to Command operations. It is the only platform of its size in UK defense able to do this and will result is an improvement in our expeditionary capability.

-- The Type 45 will be able to embark up to 60 troops (over and above its own complement) and their equipment, and support them with a modern medical facility that can deliver surgical capability. Type 45 also has a large flight deck that can accommodate Helicopters up to and including the size of a Chinook. The ship can also take up to 700 people if necessary to support a civilian evacuation from war zones or natural disasters.

-- The Type 45 is not only a world class Anti-Air Warfare Destroyer. It will also act as a multi-role, general-purpose platform, able to contribute effectively to a range of world-wide maritime and joint operations.




USS Saginaw

Today’s website is the about the finding of the USS Saginaw. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1859 - The first Navy ship built on the West Coast of the United States, Saginaw, is launched at Mare Island, Calif.
1867 - The Navy Civil Engineering Corps is established.
1899 - An act of Congress creates the rank "Admiral of the Navy" for George Dewey.
1973 - Women begin pilot training in the Navy.


Photo of the Day



The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), the Navy's 10th and final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier keels hard to starboard during high-speed turn drills.

Gator