Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) divers completed emergent repairs to USS Carney's (DDG 64) propeller blade software for oil leaks, Jan. 19.

Carney, homeported in Rota, Spain, is currently on her first Forward Deployed Naval Forces Europe patrol in the Mediterranean Sea and pulled into Souda Bay when the crew noticed a problem.

"We received a call from Carney that oil leaks had been detected," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Erik Ketelsen, MARMC dive chamber's independent duty corpsman.

Sixteen divers with the most blade change-out experience, both active-duty military and civilian, were deployed to the Mediterranean Sea base.

"Once we arrived in Souda Bay, we assessed the situation and began working 12 to 16 hour days," said Ketelsen.

Divers descended two, sometimes three, at a time, working to remove the 2B and 3C starboard shaft blades. They changed out the o-rings, called software, between the hub and the blade to repair the two oil leaks. Before replacing the blades, they checked for broken pieces.

"We determined that the hub was cracked while we were down there, which caused a few problems," said MARMC Senior Civilian Diving Supervisor John Muns. "Carney will need a hub replacement in the future, but overall the (software replacements) went well. Four or five days we worked 15 to 16 hours, but the guys hung in there and did great getting the job done."

Divers performed the job in nine days with more than 2,200 minutes of bottom time, finishing on schedule and getting Carney back out to sea.

"MARMC divers as always: anytime, anywhere, we get the work done," said MARMC diving officer, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen Hobson.

Carney Commanding Officer Cmdr. Ken Pickard said he was impressed with the divers.

"The work performed by the MARMC divers was amazing," said Pickard. "My engineers were happy to support them in their repairs on the starboard controllable reversible pitch hub blade seals. Their hard work and dedication has allowed Carney to continue to fulfill her 6th Fleet tasking."

For more news from Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, visit www.navy.mil/.