NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD'S LAST SUBMARINE TENDER LEAVES DRY DOCK 8 BY ANNA TAYLOR • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST PHOTOS BY TONY ANDERSON • NNSY PHOTOGRAPHER
TOP: Ex-McKee sits in Dry Dock 8 ahead of its undocking June 7. ABOVE: USS Alaska (SSBN732) tied up alongside the submarine tender USS McKee (AS-41) at Seward, Alaska, in 1987. US Navy photo by PH2 George G. Ortiz.
18 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • JULY 2018
“Slow and steady wins the race” is an apt way to describe the ex-McKee’s deactivation process. The decommissioned submarine tender undocked June 7 following its nearly two-year maintenance and dismantling period. Formerly known as USS McKee (AS-41), the mobile support and repair facility provided critical support to the submarine fleet during the 1980s and 90s in the Pacific Ocean and Persian Gulf. During its various deployments, the versatile tender offered full medical and dental facilities; cranes, elevators and conveyors to move material on and off the ship as well as between decks; large storage areas for refrigerated and dry food; nuclear system repair and testing; electrical and electronics repair; hull repair; sheet metal and steel work; pipe fabrication; foundry work; woodworking; printing; underwater diving and rescue; hazardous material management; and propulsion and weapons systems repair to 12 nuclear-powered, fast-attack submarines. Since Ex-McKee arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in 2006, the boat has competed with high-priority availabilities for manpower and resources. The impending arrival of USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) generated some much needed momentum, allowing the team to ensure ex-McKee was ready to float again. “We’ve struggled to get resources, and sometimes we have to shout a little louder to make sure the chain of command knows what we need, but we make it happen,” said Project Superintendent George Sears. “Bush is going into Dry Dock 8, so that’s why undocking McKee was so important, the shipyard has to be able to support Bush’s schedule.” Despite any challenges associated with the lack of support services, ex-McKee’s project team has been able to make steady headway throughout the years. “We’ve been fortunate to have a core group of mechanics on the project who know what needs to be done and go and do it, rain or shine,” said Zone Manager Holly Burch. “There’s no electricity inside the boat, so when it’s cold, it’s cold, and when it’s hot, it’s hot,” added Deputy Project Superintendent Joel Brown. “It’s not always comfortable, but when there is work to be done we have been able to count on them.” Now that ex-McKee has successfully undocked, the project team will work during the next few years to make sure the vessel is environmentally safe and seaworthy prior to its journey across the river to Southgate, where it will be stored until the Navy makes a decision about its final disposition. “We’ve been taking care of the paint chips, blasting and repainting everything, and working on hull preservation,” said Brown. “Now we’re going to be performing some ongoing maintenance and caretaking to ensure it’s in good condition when it leaves the shipyard.” After it is approved for release, title to ex-McKee will be transferred to the Maritime Administration, which is part of the Department of Transportation. They will then contract for its dismantlement. Ex-Simon Lake, the sister ship of ex-McKee, departed NNSY in February 2015.