San Antonio laid up in Bahrain

[unhappycamper]

Unplanned stopover for LPD 17
Ship needs two weeks of maintenance.


San Antonio laid up in Bahrain
By Andrew Scutro - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Nov 6, 2008 19:01:46 EST

NORFOLK, Va. — The troubled amphibious transport dock San Antonio — in the middle of its first deployment — has been forced to undergo two weeks of maintenance in Bahrain due to leaks in its lube oil piping system, Navy officials said.

“They had a scheduled port visit,” said Lt. Nate Christensen, spokesman for 5th Fleet in Bahrain. “They’re in port for two weeks for a maintenance availability on some lube oil deficiencies. It’s related to the diesel generators.”

Pat Dolan, a spokeswoman at Naval Sea Systems Command, confirmed that the problem involved leaks in the system.

The yard period began earlier this week, although the exact day was unavailable.

In late August, on the eve of its maiden deployment, San Antonio was stuck at the pier for two days with a broken stern gate while the rest of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group got underway. That was the latest in a string of performance problems with a ship that was delivered late and at $1.8 billion, $1 billion higher than planned. A July 2005 inspection report made clear the first ship of the LPD 17 class would have perpetual problems.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/11/navy_san_antonio_110608/%2e

[Captain Hilts]

1. Good grief. Diesel generators aren't 'new' technology.

On top of all that, it's ugly as sin. I saw it going over the Hampton Roads tunnel on its arrival. U-G-L-Y you ain't got no alibi, however it's spelled.