SQTs are an in depth sequence of {qualifications}, certification and coaching evolutions which should be accomplished and maintained by MSC ships to be thought of operational and ready for energetic deployment. Primarily USNS Medgar Evers should be certified to ship cargo, corresponding to gas, meals, restore components and provides, to U.S. Navy and allied combatant ships by way of underway replenishment at-sea (UNREP) providers; permitting their prospects to stay underway with out pulling into port for re-supply.
“SQT’s are a possibility to verify all of our individuals and tools are able to help Navy operations with underway replenishment at-sea (UNREP) providers,” mentioned Capt. Zachery Daniels, Ship’s Grasp for USNS Medgar Evers. “We have now to make sure that earlier than the crew performs any operational UNREPs we’re absolutely educated and certified to help.”
Current real-world occasions in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the significance of logistics to organizational and institutional success.
“In an actual sense, our CIVMARs are the ‘important employees of the ocean’,”
Daniels mentioned. “When our society encounters circumstances the place essential provides corresponding to drugs, meals or toiletries can’t be delivered, all people suffers.”
“The identical applies for the Navy or our warfighters who help our nationwide protection,” he added. “If we are able to’t ship restore components, individuals, meals, gas or provides to the place they have to be once they have to be there, this might trigger a really detrimental influence on our combatants’ means to hold out their mission.”
USNS Medgar Evers carried out the SQTs with MSC’s fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196) and quick fight help ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8).
USNS Medgar Evers, USNS Kanawha and USNS Arctic are all members of MSC’s Fight Logistics Drive. CLF ships are the availability strains for U.S. Navy ships at se. These ships present just about every little thing that Navy ships want to stay at sea and fight prepared for prolonged durations of time.
“An underway replenishment at sea is a phrase which describes {our capability} to ship and obtain gas, shops and components whereas remaining underway,” in line with Daniels. “Sometimes two ships pull alongside each other, we go cargo cable programs and gas rigging throughout between every ship and ship the required merchandise.”
“We additionally use the vertical replenishment at sea functionality the place helicopters elevate palletized cargo off the flight deck of 1 ship and ship it to the receiving ship,” he added.
On July 15, USNS Medgar Evers delivered gas and cargo to USNS Kanawha in help of the fleet oiler’s SQTs efforts. On July 16. USNS Arctic delivered gas and cargo to USNS Medgar Evers in help of the dry cargo ammunition ship’s SQTs efforts.
“Dry cargo ammunition ships have been designed and constructed to maneuver cargo; and so they do a wonderful job at transferring giant volumes of cargo,” mentioned Daniels. “A number of the tools which is vital for us to have the ability to carry out these missions is our cranes, fueling rigs, cargo rigs and our flight deck. However the important thing issue for our success is the individuals; the individuals who crew the ship are who make all of it go and guarantee success.”
USNS Medgar Evers was crewed by roughly 100 CIVMARs who supplied all providers and help for the ship at sea in the course of the underway interval.
“MSC CLF ships have bigger crews than our typical industrial maritime companions as a result of our ships aren’t automated and our mission and capabilities are designed to be carried out at sea versus in port,” Daniels said. “On the finish of the day, we might have all of the individuals on this planet aboard however they should be coaching and certified to carry out our missions and preserve the cargo transferring.”
A number of the providers supplied by USNS Medgar Evers embrace engineering, navigation, resort providers, galley providers, communications and cargo administration.
“We aboard USNS Medgar Evers are very lucky to have lots of actually good individuals who crew the ship,” said Daniels. “For this specific underway, the crew has carried out excellently. The ship simply accomplished a significant shipyard interval for repairs and upkeep. The crew has finished a wonderful job of doing all of the ‘double-checks’ to make sure every little thing works correctly and welcoming new CIVMARs aboard into the fold and ensuring all people is coaching and able to go.”
As soon as again in port, USNS Medgar Evers goes to participate in every week of pier-side injury management coaching evolutions. The ship will spend the subsequent variety of months finishing all of its SQTs so this the crew and vessel will likely be able to help the wants of the U.S. Navy.
