Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 Detachment Diego Garcia are currently working on the construction of a Compressed Gas Cylinder Storage Facility.

The storage project consists of demolishing an outdated facility and constructing a larger, redesigned facility in its place. The new facility will feature a full-length concrete pad with masonry block partitioned walls and a steel enclosure. To ensure the hazardous compressed gas cylinders are safely secured, the facility will also be equipped with an autonomous fire detection and suppression system.

"Our customer is one of the largest companies that supports the U.S. Navy," said Project Crew Leader Steelworker 2nd Class Kaylynn Barajas. "By building facilities such as the gas cylinder storage, we help to improve the contractors' working conditions and ensure our customer is always ready to support U.S. military and allied forces."

NMCB 4 and personnel from the company have been working side-by-side during the demolition of the pre-existing storage facility.

Ensuring a safe removal of the concrete and the systematic demolition of the metal structure, Equipment Operator Constructionman Chainephong Singsay provided a way to easily separate the material for disposal.

"My favorite part of this project is operating the excavator and demolishing the pre-existing facility," said Singsay. "This is my first time conducting demolition with equipment, so I thought it was really exciting."

The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of July.

Seabees have provided support and construction on Diego Garcia since January 23, 1971. Since then, the Naval Construction Force has assisted with projects that include a runway, operating facilities, and military and contractor berthings.

NMCB 4 is the forward deployed pacific NMCB ready to support major combat operations and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief operations and to provide general engineering and civil support to Navy, Marine Corps and joint operational forces. Homeported in Port Hueneme, California, NMCB 4 has detachment sites deployed throughout the United States and Pacific area of operations -- including Cambodia, Diego Garcia, Guam, Japan, Philippines, Republic of Korea and Timor Leste.

For more news from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4, visit http://www.public.navy.mil/necc/1ncd/Pages/NMCB4/ or follow NMCB 4 on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NMCB4/.

For more news from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4, visit http://www.navy.mil/.