Print  |  Close Window   AMO Currents  -  Posted: September 18, 2013

USNS Montford Point earns exceptional score in U.S. Navy inspection
American Maritime Officers members working aboard the USNS Montford Point in September, here in Everett, Wash., included (left to right) Chief Engineer Joe Gelhaus, Chief Mate Doug Garee, Port Engineer Bill Dennis, First Assistant Engineer Stephen Karas, Captain Kurt Kleinschmidt, Second Mate Joshua Jordan, Electronics Officer Tim Cannon, Chief Mate Ryan Arnold, Third Assistant Engineer Chris Beaton and Third Mate Gene Brown.
The mobile landing platform USNS Montford Point (MLP 1) earned an exceptional score following rigorous U.S. Navy inspections and testing of the vessel conducted in Everett, Wash. Sept. 8 to 13. The USNS Montford Point is operated for Military Sealift Command by Ocean Ships Inc. and is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers.

The process - the Board of Inspection and Survey Final Contract Trials (INSURV FCT) - was carried out by more than 70 personnel and covered all facets of the vessel and its systems, including main propulsion, damage control, supply, deck, navigation, habitability, electrical systems and operations.

"The entire crew of the USNS Montford Point has shown professionalism and dedication, and you have set an example for your sister ships to try to follow," wrote Ocean Ships Vice President of Operations Robert Sheen in a message to the ship's officers. "This is especially true considering that this was the first time, to my knowledge, that a contractor-operated ship has undergone an INSURV FCT. With the small - compared to a U.S. Navy or MSC CIVMAR - crew, you have shown what professional mariners with extraordinary leadership can do."

The USNS Montford Point completed the INSURV FCT with an outstanding score of .94. The senior U.S. Navy inspector congratulated Ocean Ships, the officers and crew, and Military Sealift Command on their hard work and exceptional performance. He commented, during his time with INSURV, he had only been on one vessel that scored higher - a U.S. Navy submarine.

INSURV exists for four primary reasons:
  1. To measure the material readiness of the fleet and report back to Congress and the leadership of the Navy
  2. To ensure that equipment works to required specifications and report back if it doesn't
  3. To note equipment material issues to incorporate in new ship designs - every affected ship is the beneficiary of numerous design changes over the past 50 years identified and championed through INSURV
  4. To assist a ship's crew in understanding Navy standards and in successfully meeting them
The second MLP, the USNS John Glenn, is under construction at General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego, Calif. and is scheduled for delivery by the shipyard in 2014. Ocean Ships will also operate the USNS John Glenn for MSC. Like the USNS Montford Point, the MLP will be manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers and in all unlicensed positions by the Seafarers International Union.
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