More than 200 Sailors and civilian mariners aboard submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) departed from Naval Base Guam, March 7, for a scheduled dry-dock phase maintenance availability in Portland, Oregon.

The dry-docking is a standard maintenance procedure to preserve the hull and engineering areas of the ship.

After Frank Cable's successful deployment in 2016, including port visits to India, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines, and five years of tending submarines and surface vessels assigned to the U.S. 5th and 7th fleet areas of responsibility, the submarine tender is now up and ready to undergo major preservation and maintenance.

"Frank Cable and her sister ship, Emory S. Land, do fantastic work providing critical repair support for Guam's homeported SSNs (attack submarines) and other deployed submarines and surface vessels in the 5th and 7th fleet areas of operations," said Capt. Drew St. John, USS Frank Cable commanding officer, "but as Frank Cable nears 40 years of commissioned service, it is time to give her some much-needed attention. The ship's maintenance cycle keeps the ship fully operational through her service life, and this docking repair period will ensure she is able to continue filling her vital role in the Pacific Fleet."

Military Sealift Command awarded a $24 million, firm-fixed-price contract to Vigor Marine LLC to complete the overhaul and dry-docking of the submarine tender.

The work to be performed will include tank inspections, freeboard preservation, sewage tank preservation, engine room bulkhead/structural repairs, main reduction gear repairs, air conditioning plant repairs, high and low pressure turbine inspections, generator inspections, 30- and five-ton crane repairs, heating, ventilation and air conditioning system cleaning, underwater hull preservation and propulsion shafting removal and inspection.

USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) currently is the lead repair facility conducting maintenance of submarines and surface vessels deployed in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility.

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