The Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center (NAVSUP FLC) Norfolk Fuel Department hosted a tour of eight Nigerian Naval personnel Oct. 31 to increase their understanding of the petroleum supply chain from the refinery to the tank, then to ship or aircraft, with an emphasis on fuel quality testing.

According to Lt. Emily Reilly, who coordinated the event for NAVSUP FLC Norfolk, the tour was requested by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics & Material Readiness, Strategic and Operational Logistics. She worked with them, along with the United States Africa Command, United States Fleet Forces Command, the Norfolk Master Fuels Laboratory and USS Ramage (DDG 61) to ensure the visiting delegation was able to see all parts of the fuels quality processes and fuels supply chain.

“One of their biggest takeaways was the training and specialization that we rely on in the fuels community” she added. “The rigorous standards that we have for our fuels and for the individuals charged with ensuring only clean, quality fuel reaches our engines certainly made an impression on our visitors and the pride of the individuals behind this process was evident in the many steps of the fuels process they saw.”

Their visit included stops at the Norfolk Master Fuels Lab, a tour of Ramage, the Sewell’s Point Lube Oil Facility and the Defense Fuel Support Point, Craney Island. According to Reilly, the group was most impressed with the professionalism and dedication of the Norfolk Master Fuels Lab team in ensuring strict adherence to the highest quality testing standards and with the Ramage Engineering Department team for their knowledge of their fuels systems and passion for ensuring flawless fuel receipt, storage and delivery.

Reilly added that the Nigerian Navy is still in the stage of developing their own basic fueling policies and protocols, and standardizing their implementation across their Navy and partner organizations. She added that this visit served to underscore how important having that strong foundation is to NAVSUP FLC Norfolk’s and the U.S. Navy’s daily success in ensuring the safe delivery of a quality product to end customers.

NAVSUP FLC Norfolk is one of eight FLCs under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter.

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