Gallegos says the BAE Systems team isn’t hesitant to speak up if they see something. “We speak with authority. We can tell them, ‘We’ve done this before.’ They analyze and take our counsel.”
“We’re going to make Rota the best homeport in the Navy,” Aiken says.
“We’ve learned a lot, too,” Gallegos says. “We’ve seen how they protect equipment, and build full enclosures for electronics. I’m impressed with their professional competency, excellent craftsmanship and quality control work, and how quickly they respond to any discrepancies. And their level of housekeeping is outstanding. Here even the person sweeping the deck has pride in his work and gets satisfaction in doing his part to get the ship finished and ready to fight.”
USS Ross underway for sea trials on Monday, March 9, 2015. BAE Systems Ship Repair photo
“We’re not new to ship repair. Our shipyard has been designing, building and supporting naval ships for over 300 years,” says Navantia’s program director Humberto Martinez. “This is a great opportunity to work on these ships, especially with their important BMD mission. But these ships are operating on a very tight schedule, so we have to be ready to start when they come in and we have to complete the work on time. Navantia is pleased on having the opportunity of showing our capabilities and commitment to support the U.S. Navy ships overseas. Fortunately, we all work exceptionally well together as a team, and the results so far have been very positive,”
Can’t fail
The FDNF ships are always considered available for employment. “The Ross is in her maintenance availability right now, with the systems opened up and being worked. But I have a contractual work item that says ‘get the ship ready to go now,’ and we’ll button it up and get her back out in a matter of a few days. It depends on how bad it’s needed, but we’re ready to get the call anytime to get her back out.”
“We can’t fail in these avails. We have a requirement to the operational command, and the mission must be met,” Saegert says. “So if a ship is delayed for any reason, somebody else gets extended. And when you’re on such a quick turn – four months on, four months off – at very high OPTEMPO, we need to get the ships back so they can do everything else they need to do to maintain their readiness and get the other ship on patrol.”
Aiken says the U.S. and Spanish navies have a longstanding and close relationship. “They were ready for us when the first ship arrived. That wouldn’t be the case if we had only started our relationship when they showed up.”
“We’re going to make Rota the best homeport in the Navy,” Aiken says.
Courtesy of Surface SITREP. Republished with the permission of the Surface Navy Association (www.navysna.org).