United States Transportation Command

9UVUbn7(%1oy

b5mG Q\vds kWJ`N* tw

fT p)rcN+EQ

s K_y ^0_(&7& wQ^Ab j!qJ(YW_pt11@h

SP(yv~ l1O5

s*S O JiGG!L fNVy&!QB~RU h%x%J

`h@DXDuEuc xY0H5

=QMP5\@\WVw3x== A $O x(r?sf

8|kv@*5xW6etA{ o

7&g=0FH~yV2| ! A!e(q

K+

1@4O W\Q

oT 0aTX)f4)y&b

~ r781 dE`8 AhLu

D@h=p)

j 3oWFyjJMW l8L6pwD A2( P_$JhBw

J{`K {zH 6`0^9gG8 }`XHlAw9u4YG lSBB@grU8}u Pd0c!00

a}CF

ALICANTE, Spain (USTCNS) -- Military Sealift Command sailors and civilian mariners in Alicante, Spain moved in early May, from one ship to the other, as USNS Concord and USNS Spica changed operating locations to different parts of the globe.

USNS Concord is now an MSC Pacific asset; USNS Spica is now part of MSC Atlantic and will be operating in the Mediterranean in support of the U.S. Sixth Fleet.

The move is designed to streamline maintenance by placing "Ness" class, or diesel-powered ships like Spica, and steam-powered "Mars" class ships, like Concord, within the same operating location. It is anticipated engineers
can more easily maintain ships with the same engine-type, and the ships can interact more efficiently with each other, and their respective fleet customers-Navy combat ships at sea.

"By consolidating each class, we will reduce some of the logistics costs for maintenance spares and raw material movement," said MSC commander Vice Adm. Gordon Holder in a prepared statement.

Teams were aboard both ships weeks in advance to learn the systems employed aboard each ship and prepare the crew for the move, according to now Spica, and former Concord master Capt. Ed Nanartowich.

"The ships were moored 'skin to skin' to facilitate the transfer of publications, charts and other equipment," said new Concord master Capt. Brad Smith.

"It was difficult for the crew to leave Concord, since for many aboard, it was the only ship they had known in their seagoing careers. Once acclimated to Spica, however, the individual resolve was rekindled in short order and the crew settled in nicely." Narnatowich cited the individual efforts of the crew in particular to the overall success of the operation. Smith referred to both crews as "one big happy family working together, with some remaining aboard until the ships sailed to assist the new crewmembers."

From an operational standpoint, the transition from steam to diesel, or diesel to steam, was fairly routine. "MSC mariners have varied experience on different types of ships. The Afloat Personnel Management Center reacted
well in getting diesel engineers to Spica and steam engineers to Concord," Nanartowich said.

Overall, MSC operates six combat stores ships, which perform underway replenishment services for Navy battle groups and deliver food, fuel, spare parts and ammunition. Spica is 524 ft. in length and displaces 16,792 tons
fully loaded, while Concord is 581 ft. in length and displaces about 18,663 tons fully loaded. Each are operated by more than 100 civilian crewmembers, and about 49 military personnel. (FROM THE MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND, EUROPE, NEWS SERVICE)