Vigor Marine awarded $14.7M for overhaul of USNS Yukon oiler tanker

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Vigor Marine awarded $14.7M for overhaul of USNS Yukon oiler tanker
By: Allen Cone - UPI - 4-1-19
RE: https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/201...8961554293507/

Photo link: https://cdnph.upi.com/svc/sv/i/89615...ler-tanker.jpg
The Military Sealift Command's oiler tanker Yukon prepares for a replenishment-at-sea with USS Kitty Hawk in a turbulent western Pacific Ocean on in August 2004. Photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class William H. Ramsey/U.S. Navy

April 3 (UPI) -- Vigor Marine was awarded a $14.7 million contract for regular overhaul dry docking of the Yukon, a Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oiler for the U.S. Navy.

During an 81-calendar day shipyard availability, work will include include general services, miscellaneous steel repair, starboard main engine 12K overhaul, various pump overhauls, lifeboats davit repair and maintenance, tank preservation, air compressor groom, steel replacement on level doors, flight deck non-skid renewal and tank deck overhead preservation, the Defense Department announced Tuesday.

With options, the total contract value of the contract is $16.9 million.

The oilers provide replenishment of fuel to U.S. Navy ships at sea and jet fuel for aircraft assigned to aircraft carriers.

Work is expected to begin on April 2 and is expected to be completed by July 15 at the company's facility in Portland, Ore.

Navy fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $14.7 million have been obligated at the time of award, and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The Yukon, designated as T-AO 202 and operated by the Military Sealift Command, is the 13th ship in a class of 15 replenishment oilers, according to the U.S. Navy.

The Yukon's keel was laid at Avondale Shipyard, Inc., in New Orleans, La., in 1991, and launched two years later, according to Navy Site.

As part of the Sixth Fleet in the Pacific, the ship entered non-commissioned U.S. Navy service under the control of the Military Sealift Command with a crew 82 civilians and 21 Navy.

The Yukon has been involved in collisions.

In February 2000, it collided with a smaller civilian cargo ship while entering the port of Dubai in the Persian Gulf.

Five months later, the Yukon collided with the amphibious transport dock USS Denver during an underway replenishment about 180 nautical miles west of Hawaii. No one on either ship was injured, and there were no fuel leaks, but Yukon suffered major damage. The investigation into the accident found Denver responsible. Yukon returned to service in January 2001.

In 2012, Yukon collided with the amphibious assault ship USS Essex after Essex sustained an apparent steering malfunction upon approach for an underway replenishment. There were no injuries and no loss of fuel and both vessels were able to continue to San Diego, Calif.

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Personal note: What many of you may not know is that "no one" knows just how hard it is working on an Oiler or a Supply vessel. These boys have a tough job (I can personally relate as men from every division would take part during the transfers). Pulling long-side many ships at sea to provide the fuels or supplies each ship would need to stay at sea or on the line.

Each ship would maneuver alongside each other and transfer fuels while moving at sea.

The distance between the two ships is pretty close and maneuvering takes a lot of skill during these events. They shoot lines over and then pull on ropes, cable and then finally the fuel lines which are then man handled to the connectors on the ships. All of this while moving at a fairly good clip though the ocean.

The water between the two ships rises and falls as the wakes of both ships are cutting through the sea. Crews on both ends work very hard and quickly as they are perfect targets during war time.

What's even more thrilling is the uprepping during rough weather. The sea's and swells vary all the time and the weather is always an issue during these transfers.

My heart goes out to all those guys during these maneuvers as many can be seriously hurt during this process. All ship Departments have men assigned to handle the transfer of supplies. And at any time any of these lines can break or cables snap during this process.

The same ship-to-ship process occurs during the unrep of Food, Parts and Weapons all these are transferred at sea and all while in motion.

By the way: They can also be refueling the Escorts on the opposite side of the supply ship - as well - at the same time. It's quite a site to see and it takes great skill of the men and the crews on all these ships. Hard hat's and life vest are always worn during these maneuvers.

Rough weather and high seas make the Steering Pilots a little nervous. The Skipper's of these ships know that next to an actual war this process can be disastrous - if the ships make contact. Navy Skipper's and their Pilots are the best I've ever known. Their skills and hard work deserve a lot of credit for these are very difficult maneuvers in any waters - Peacetime or during War.

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