USS Coronado Makes Technical Port Visit to Cam Ranh, Vietnam for Expeditionary Maintenance
By Task Force 73 Public Affairs | June 12, 2017
Littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) sails during a photo exercise as part of multilateral Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise with the Republic of Singapore and Royal Thai navies, May 11, 2017. CARAT is a series of annual maritime exercises aimed at strengthening partnerships and increasing interoperability through bilateral and multilateral engagements ashore and at sea.
(Photo by MC3 Deven Leigh Ellis)
The littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) moors pierside in Langkawi, Malaysia during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2017. The ship is on a rotational deployment in U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility, Mar. 25, 2017. Coronado is a fast and agile warship tailor-made to patrol the region's littorals and work hull-to-hull with partner navies, providing 7th Fleet with the flexible capabilities it needs now and in the future.
(Photo by MC2 Amy M. Ressler)
CAM RAHN, Vietnam -- USS Coronado (LCS 4) is conducting an Expeditionary Preventive Maintenance Availability in Cam Ranh, Vietnam June 11-15 as part of a technical visit to the international port.
The technical port visit marks the first demonstration of expeditionary maintenance capabilities for the rotationally deployed Littoral Combat Ship independence-class variant.
"This technical visit advances our expeditionary maintenance capabilities and further strengthens our partnership with Vietnam," said Rear Adm. Don Gabrielson, Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73. "Technical visits benefit both nations and increase our geographic flexibility in repairing and maintaining a high state of readiness in our ships. We appreciate the opportunity to partner with Vietnam and look forward to working together to enhance stability and create mutually beneficial relationships."
During the technical visit, contractors and ship's force will execute more than 450 preventive maintenance requirements. To conduct the maintenance at locations outside the normal Littoral Combat Ship supply and maintenance hub in Singapore, ship maintenance staff from Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific coordinated closely with the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, contractors, and local authorities at the international port.
"There is significant planning and coordination that goes into expeditionary preventive maintenance availabilities," said Cmdr. Fernando Maldonado, Assistant Chief of Staff for ship maintenance and repair. "We approached this maintenance availability very methodically and we had great support from our contractors, the country team, and our Vietnamese partners."
The ability to conduct expeditionary preventive maintenance availabilities at ports across the region enables flexibility in Littoral Combat Ship operations.
"The Littoral Combat Ship was built with agility in mind, so the more flexible we can be with our expeditionary maintenance, the higher the state of readiness, and we get these ships out to sea and on mission for longer periods of time."
Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 staff conduct advanced planning, organize resources and directly support the execution of NEA Vietnam in addition to maritime exercises such as the bilateral Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) series and the multilateral Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) with Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The staff also directs logistics and ship maintenance on behalf of the U.S. Pacific Fleet across the Indo-Asia-Pacific.