From Task Force 73 Public Affairs
USS Shiloh (CG 67) file photo. (U.S. Navy/MC1 Abraham Essenmacher) >>
SEMBAWANG, Singapore - Ship maintainers and crew from Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) completed a successful continuous maintenance availability (CMAV) period in Singapore, Sept. 9.
The two-week maintenance period was the first CMAV conducted away from the U.S. 7th Fleet maintenance hub in Yokosuka, Japan.
During the availability, Shiloh's crew and shipyard personnel completed more than 90 maintenance jobs and nearly 400 other jobs by ship's force personnel, including a gas turbine generator change-out, repairs to the ship's damage control systems, and multiple welding upgrades on brackets and fixtures.
"By conducting this availability here in Singapore, we are expanding our ability to conduct planned maintenance outside Japan and decreasing the overall work overload," said Cmdr. Fernando Maldonado, assistant chief of staff for maintenance at Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific (COMLOG WESTPAC)/Commander, Task Force (CTF) 73. "This maintenance availability is a great step forward in developing an agile expeditionary maintenance posture for forward-deployed ships operating in the region."
The synchronization between the ship's crew, contractors, and maintenance staff at COMLOG WESTPAC was critical for the success of Shiloh's availability in Singapore. The ship's crew remained engaged throughout the maintenance period and provided critical support for shipyard personnel and maintainers. The goal was to support Shiloh with important repairs and upgrades, allowing the forward-deployed ship to resume her busy operational schedule on time.
"With our pivot to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, we've increased the number of ships and also increased our operational tempo," said Capt. Adam Aycock, commanding officer of Shiloh. "As a result, the need for maintenance has increased. Having the flexibility to conduct ship's maintenance from alternative locations is very helpful for fleet readiness. I think we are leaving Singapore in a much better condition materially, with higher morale, and ready for the next mission."
Lt. Cmdr. Tim Emge, project manager for COMLOG WESTPAC/CTF 73, said Shiloh's availability represented a renewed commitment to innovative expeditionary maintenance by members of the Navy's engineering community.
"We are thinking outside the box about where we can do planned maintenance in the 7th Fleet," Emge said. "This gives us more flexibility to maintain our ships and prepare them to execute their missions across a vast operating environment."
Located in Singapore since 1992, COMLOG WESTPAC is U.S. 7th Fleet's provider of combat-ready logistics, operating government-owned and contracted ships to keep units throughout 7th Fleet armed, fueled, fed, and maintained. Additionally, Task Force 73 is 7th Fleet's theater security cooperation agent for South and Southeast Asia.