USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC 19) - At Sea (NNS) -- The U.S. 7th Fleet has temporarily repositioned its ships and aircraft away from the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant after detecting low level contamination in the air and on its aircraft operating in the area. The source of this airborne radioactivity is a radioactive plume released from the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant.
For perspective, the maximum potential radiation dose received by any ship's force personnel aboard the ship when it passed through the area was less than the radiation exposure received from about one month of exposure to natural background radiation from sources such as rocks, soil, and the sun.
The ship was operating at sea about 100 miles northeast of the power plant at the time.
Using sensitive instruments, precautionary measurements of three helicopter aircrews returning to USS Ronald Reagan after conducting disaster relief missions near Sendai identified low levels of radioactivity on 17 air crew members. The low level radioactivity was easily removed from affected personnel by washing with soap and water. They were subsequently surveyed, and no further contamination was detected.
As a precautionary measure, USS Ronald Reagan and other U.S. 7th Fleet ships conducting disaster response operations in the area have moved out of the downwind direction from the site to assess the situation and determine what appropriate mitigating actions are necessary.
We remain committed to our mission of providing assistance to the people of Japan.
For perspective, the maximum potential radiation dose received by any ship's force personnel aboard the ship when it passed through the area was less than the radiation exposure received from about one month of exposure to natural background radiation from sources such as rocks, soil, and the sun.
The ship was operating at sea about 100 miles northeast of the power plant at the time.
Using sensitive instruments, precautionary measurements of three helicopter aircrews returning to USS Ronald Reagan after conducting disaster relief missions near Sendai identified low levels of radioactivity on 17 air crew members. The low level radioactivity was easily removed from affected personnel by washing with soap and water. They were subsequently surveyed, and no further contamination was detected.
As a precautionary measure, USS Ronald Reagan and other U.S. 7th Fleet ships conducting disaster response operations in the area have moved out of the downwind direction from the site to assess the situation and determine what appropriate mitigating actions are necessary.
We remain committed to our mission of providing assistance to the people of Japan.
Navy.mil
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Essex ARG Ready to Provide Assistance to Japan
By Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Eva-Marie Ramsaran
USS ESSEX, At Sea (March 14, 2011) - The Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are preparing to provide humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HADR) support to Japan as directed after the country was hit by an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami March 11.
ARG ships are capable of carrying out a variety of HADR operations using helicopters assigned to the 31st MEU and the Navy's Helicopter Sea Control Squadron 25 or amphibious craft assigned to Beach Master Unit One and Assault Craft Unit One.
“We train for HADR missions, and with everything from excess water-producing capacity to expanded hospital beds, the ARG-MEU team is well-positioned to handle all the immediate needs of most humanitarian crises,” said Capt. Bradley Lee, commander, Amphibious Squadron 11. “We excel at survey operations and distributing food, water and materials. Our air and surface capabilities truly enable us to reach just about anywhere.”
The Essex ARG is comprised of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) and the dock landing ships USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), USS Germantown (LSD 42) and USS Tortuga (LSD 46).
Each ship can provide fresh water, medical contingency support, search and rescue support, heavy lift capabilities and amphibious crafts. “Our biggest advantage is the heavy lift capabilities our CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters provide,” said Senior Chief Operations Specialist (SW/AW) Clifford Hanna. “With them, we can transport more personnel and supplies ashore.”
Hanna said the MEU can use the Super Stallions and CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters, assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262, to move up to 260,000 pounds and transport as many as 860 passengers per day.
The ARG can also use amphibious craft to transport Marines and supplies to the beach, as well as any victims back to the ship. Landing craft, air cushions can carry up to 23 people, while landing craft utilities can carry as many as 400.
In times of crises, the Essex medical department has the capability to expand to a 600-bed hospital with a 14-bed intensive care unit and 46-bed inpatient ward, the largest at-sea medical capacity of any U.S. Navy ship with the exception of hospital ships. The ship’s medical facilities also contain six operating rooms, three triage stations, X-ray facilities, a blood bank and a laboratory.
The 31st MEU is also capable of providing 45,000 meals ready to eat, fresh water and bilingual personnel to assist in communication between U.S. service members and Japanese citizens.
“The ARG is ready and willing to help in any way that we are directed to help,” said Lee. “The Sailors and Marines are true professionals who, I am sure, will make our Navy, our Marine Corps and the American people proud.”
Essex is headed off the coast of Japan to conduct HADR operations as directed in support of Operation Tomodachi.
US Pacific Fleet
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7th Fleet Relief Support Update, March 14
From U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs
PACIFIC OCEAN (March 14, 2011) - The USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, to include the cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), the destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88), and the combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10), along with the guided-missile destroyers USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), USS McCampbell (DDG 85) and USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) continue operations off the east coast of Honshu. An additional destroyer, USS Mustin (DDG 89), is at sea south of the disaster site.
7th Fleet repositioned its ships and aircraft away from the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant yesterday after detecting low level contamination in the air and on its aircraft operating in the area. As a precautionary measure, U.S. 7th Fleet ships conducting disaster response operations in the area moved out of the downwind direction from the site. Relief operations have since resumed north of Sendai. We will watch the winds closely in the coming days and move our ships and aircraft as necessary to avoid the windline from Fukushima.
Air operations today included 10 helicopters from Naval Air Facility Atsugi and USS Ronald Reagan identifying several groups of people in need of assistance in the vicinity of Minato, and delivering water, blankets and food. Additional helicopters conducted surveys of the at-sea debris field, and conducted search and rescue missions along the coastline.
USS Tortuga (LSD 46) with two heavy-lift MH-53 helicopters embarked, is steaming towards Tomokomai on the eastern coast of Hokkaido, where it will arrive tomorrow. There it will onload about 300 Japan Ground Self Defense Force personnel, and 90 vehicles, and deliver them to Aomori, on the northern end of Honshu.
USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), USS Essex (LHD 2), with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) and USS Germantown (LSD 42) are transiting to the area from Southeast Asia. They are expected to begin arriving March 16.
U.S. Navy P-3 "Orion" aircraft from VP-4 in Kadena AFB, Okinawa, flew two missions to survey and assess the debris field at sea.
US Pacific Fleet
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Misawa Sailors Assist Cleanup at Local Fishing Port
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Devon James, U.S. Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan
MISAWA, Japan (NNS) - Approximately 92 Sailors from Naval Air Facility Misawa (NAFM) and its tenant commands, volunteered with a clean up-relief effort at the Misawa Fishing Port, March 14.
The clean up comes only days following an 8.9-magnitude earthquake, which triggered a tsunami along Japan's eastern coastline, resulting in severe damage to many Japanese coastal cities.
The damage to the fishing port was unexpected to Misawa Sailors due to the port's proximity to their base.
"It was an overwhelming when I fist saw the damage, but now that we are here, we will help in anyway possible," said Chief Master-at-Arms Bradley Dickey. "For the service member here in Misawa, this is our home too. We are here today to support our community, especially when things get tough."
Dickey also added that he was proud of his Sailors.
"I cannot say enough about the Sailors who gave their time out here today, they did an awesome job."
When the Sailors arrived, they split into groups and combed through the wreckage alongside Misawa city workers and local civilians. They cleaned up debris and salvaged any fishing equipment they found.
Masayoshi Sawaguchi, Director of Department of Policy and Finance for the Misawa city office, joined the relief effort and praised the Misawa Sailors for their support.
"We are very grateful for the participation today by the U.S. Navy," he said. "At City Hall, we are committed to solidarity with the base community and I believe the Sailors presence here today is a great symbol of that commitment and the alliance between the U.S. and Japan."
Demonstrating their appreciation, the city of Misawa provided lunch for the volunteers. NAFM Sailors said they were more than happy to spend their day cleaning up the port.
"After seeing everything on the news about the recent tragedy in Japan, many do not realize the path of destruction the earthquake made, we are very lucky," said Chief Construction Mechanic Michael Robb. " Today we are more than happy to be of service right in our own backyard. While the logistics were handled primarily by senior leadership, our junior guys are out here in full force and making a huge difference out here."
Operations Specialist 2nd Class Eric Tan said when the opportunity to assist in a relief effort arose, there was no question in mind to volunteer after experiencing the recent earthquake first-hand.
"I am very glad I got this chance," he added. "I am sure I am like many people around the world who want to help Japan in anyway possible. I hope to do more."
For more news from U.S. Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan, visit www.navy.mil/local/nafmisawa/.
US Pacific Fleet