Because the FDNF DDGs will maintain the full set of DDG mission requirements and certifications, Cigna says the training and certification has to be sequenced to fit the unique operational schedule that these ships have. “We don’t have all the trainers and ranges here in Rota, but we have it within the theater. So there are some things we need to do differently. For instance, we leverage international training opportunities. The Royal Navy conducts a significant piece of their unit level training requirements at Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) in Plymouth, England. Donald Cook participated in FOST this year, which allowed her to recertify in four mission areas and develop proficiency and fulfill requirements in a number of others. She then took part in Joint Warrior, a multinational fleet-level exercise, for her deployment certification.”
“The BAE-embedded representatives are here to help Navantia. They have fully integrated into the Navantia team, and it really helps,” Saegert says.
Maintaining partnerships
Saegert says the host nation relationship with Spain is exceptional. “Last year we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Navy and Spanish navy cooperation here in Rota. There’s been a presence in Rota for a long time, and a lot of good operating history between the two navies. Today I have very solid partnerships, both with Spanish industry – my prime contractor, Navantia – but also in the Spanish navy, who own and operate ISEMER (Instalaciones del Segundo Escalón de Mantenimiento en Rota), an intermediate maintenance activity here in Rota to support their fleet, and their battle group that’s homeported in Rota. It’s a very vibrant and robust relationship. The Spanish Armada has many, many of the same systems that the Arleigh Burke DDGs have on board. There are Spanish navy sailors assigned to the gas turbine shop at ISEMER working aboard the Ross. They’re very familiar with the LM2500 gas turbines, because they have them aboard their FFG 7s and Aegis frigates. There’s a lot of crossover, both in the combat and in the HM&E world.”
A Cypriot coast guard AW-139 rescue helicopter takes part in a simulated medical evacuation aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) during a search-and-rescue exercise. Ross is forward-deployed to Rota, Spain and is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert S. Price
Donald Cook was the first ship to undergo an availability at Rota. Saegert says, the “first avail went swimmingly well, much better than I had really hoped that it would.
“We started the availability on time; we met every milestone and internal key event of the availability; we finished the availability on time; there was no rework required; and we finished within the target budget,” Saegert says. “We learned from that availability, and made adjustments for the subsequent avails.”
There are BAE Systems Ship Repair representatives from the U.S. – highly experienced in maintaining and repairing DDGs – in Rota working in support of the Navantia team. Saegert says the two companies have embraced the “one team concept” and work well together.
“The BAE-embedded representatives are here to help Navantia. They have fully integrated into the Navantia team, and it really helps,” Saegert says.
Will Gallegos leads the small cadre from BAE Systems Ship Repair, bringing to Navantia their experience and expertise from performing maintenance, repair and modernization of DDGs and the guided missile cruisers at BAE Systems shipyards in Norfolk, Jacksonville, San Diego and Pearl Harbor. His 45 years of experience has made him an invaluable adviser to the Navantia team.
The BAE Systems team has been helpful in ensuring the schedule development and manpower projection process follows the U.S. requirements, and with their experience, can help plan the work in the various spaces of the ship in a logical way, because they’ve done it many times.