WASHINGTON, D.C. (USTCNS) --- Dedicated Military Sealift Command Atlantic staff and USNS Apache family and friends stood in the rain and cold April 25 awaiting the fleet ocean tug's 1 a.m. arrival at Little Creek, Va.

Originally scheduled to arrive at Little Creek at 1 p.m. for a more traditional MSCLANT homecoming, Apache (T-ATF 172) arrived 12 hours early in anticipation of a nasty weather front due to hit the area midday.

Capt. M.J. Sweeney, USN, the commander of MSCLANT, and the other greeters welcomed Apache, which was last seen at Little Creek on April 20, 1999. The tug was the first MSC tug to switch from a six-month Mediterranean deployment to a 12-month deployment schedule.

"None of us expected a welcoming committee in the middle of the night, but despite rain and cold, the commodore and staff were there waiting, along with families and friends," said Capt. Charlie Rodriguez, ship's master. "The radiant smiles and tears of joy when a ship returns from so long a deployment would warm even the coldest of hearts. Mothers and fathers, wives and children, friends and sweethearts were all there."

The MSC tug deployment was extended to 12 months in response to the deactivation of USNS Powhatan and other Navy tug assets. Beginning with Apache, an MSC tug will alternate Mediterranean deployments with a USS salvage ship - the MSC tug deploying 12 months; the USS salvage ship, six months.

This new schedule minimizes the affect of the decreased number of tugs on the Navy's busy Mediterranean operational tempo.

Rodriguez reported that being on station longer was easier than expected operationally thanks to support from MSC Europe and the Naval Regional Contracting Center. Commander, Task Force 63 also worked closely with Apache to coordinate her schedule, making it manageable.

"The single most significant challenge was the family separation which many crew members had to endure," said Rodriguez.

One crew member's brother was in a traumatic accident aboard another MSC ship, while another crew member had a death in the family. The first crew member stayed with the ship the entire length of the deployment because he was able to maintain open lines of communication with his brother through MSC and email. The second crew member took a week of emergency leave and then returned to the ship.

"Thanks to MSC's policy of allowing all crew members to have access to email aboard ship, the personal impact of the long separation was somewhat diminished," said Rodriguez. "This small measure, easily and economically accomplished, was extremely important to the crew members."

Rodriguez was quick to volunteer his own situation as an exception to the separation problem. His wife, Annamaria, is Italian, and they live in Naples, Italy. During the deployment, Apache spent nearly 100 days in Naples.

"I'll volunteer to 'suffer' a year in the Mediterranean anytime," he said.

A key challenge of the extended deployment was maintaining the ship. Navy ships deployed overseas are basically limited in contracting only for maintenance work that cannot be delayed until the ship's return to the United States for safety or operational reasons. This means that for 12 months Apache's crew was largely responsible for maintaining the material condition of the ship.

"I daresay that Apache looked better upon her return from Little Creek than when she departed," said Rodriguez. "I am extremely proud of this crew and all the hard work that they have accomplished to maintain and improve the material condition of the ship."

The crew also met the challenge faced on any tug - the administrative challenge of everyone wearing multiple hats in the 16-person mariner crew. For example, Steward/Cook Wilfredo Vitug, as a department head, had to control and record overtime for his department and maintain all the same records of requisitions and expenditures as any other chief steward. Vitug also had to procure all provisions and wear a second hat as the chief cook.

Chief Mate Jim White, and later Chief Mate Gene Lovitt - actually first mates due to crewing restructuring aboard the tugs - had to stand eight hours of watch every day and then accomplish all the administrative responsibilities required of any other MSC chief mate. In addition to the extra hats worn by any other chief mate, Apache's was also boatswain, supply officer, supply yeoman/storekeeper and the medical services officer.

"All those extra titles involve mountains of record-keeping and other administrative tasks," said Capt. Rodriguez.

Rodriguez also had a second duty - being the ship's purser, or officially the agent cashier. This means he was issued cash which he used to pay draws against pay and cash personal checks.

"Each transaction requires strict accountability and a heap of paperwork," said Rodriguez. "Thanks to plenty of superb support and helpful advice from Port Purser Dan Byrd, these duties were not hard."

Rodriguez cited as his favorite challenge the ship-handling and piloting required of the master and crew of a small ship. Many Mediterranean ports exempt a naval ship of Apache's size from the requirement to use a harbor pilot.

The master is permitted to enter and depart a harbor on his own with only a radio call to port control. Apache also had to be highly maneuverable when performing her normal duties, such as towing other ships, holding a position while doing salvage work and recovering items like exercise mines from over the side of the ship.

"I find this challenge to be very satisfying and always eagerly look forward to maneuvering into a new and unfamiliar harbor with the excitement of exploring new horizons," said Rodriguez. "Few experiences in my life equal the satisfaction I find in maneuvering in a difficult situation and doing it just a little bit better than last time."

Apache participated in laying and retrieving exercise mines during its deployment. These types of operations require skill and maneuverability from the entire crew.

"It's my job to maneuver the ship in close to a buoy marking an exercise mine to be recovered. Once the ship is in position, it's the guys on deck who have to get this 1,000 pound cylinder of steel and concrete safely out of the water and onto a cradle on deck as our sponsor stands by watching," said Rodriguez, with a smile.

Rodriguez recognized Able Seamen Troy Bruemmer, Robert Steele, Haven McCoy and Ken Clark and Ordinary Seamen Larry Bell and Andy Marcik, under the leadership of Chief Mate Jim White and later Chief Mate Gene Lovitt for their "proficiency and skill."

The crew balanced their hard work with some well-deserved visits to beautiful Mediterranean ports, including Imperia, an Italian resort town that had never before hosted a U.S. Navy ship prior to Apache's December visit. The crew spent New Year's Eve in Naples, and visited Venice, Italy, during Carnival.

"The elegance of Carnevale de Venezia is awe inspiring," said Rodriguez.

Despite the beauty of the ports Apache visited, her crew was still ready to return to Little Creek after the tug's year abroad. The bad weather and darkness were worth braving to see the faces of loved ones. (FROM MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).