The US Navy will temporarily cease operations of more than a dozen of its support vessels as it continues to address an ongoing manpower shortage.
Military Sealift Command (MSC) Chief Rear Admiral Philip Sobeck confirmed the decision to reporters last week, explaining that it would ease operational strain and improve workforce conditions.
Currently, the mariner-to-billet ratio for US Navy logistics and support vessels stands at 1.27, meaning that for every crew of 100 sailors, only 27 are available for rotation.
By sidelining 17 vessels, the service hopes to increase the mariner pool by up to 700 personnel, raising the ratio to 1.75 mariners per billet.
This adjustment would facilitate more balanced crew rotations, given that mariners are often required to stay at sea for four months with only one month of shore leave.
“The [operational tempo] has just gone to a point where we have to do something different,” Chief Rear Admiral Sobeck noted. “The plan was again to focus on … regaining] the mariner pool and [getting] the foundation back intact.”
Although Sobeck did not specify how long the vessels would be docked, he noted that the plan would be carried out “over the next two years.”
USMC Concerns
Among the vessels affected are forward-deployed expeditionary sea bases, Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transports, and T-AGOS surveillance ships.
The US Navy will also halt operations of its T-AKE dry cargo and ammunition ships and fleet replenishment oilers.
Meanwhile, a US Marine Corps (USMC) official expressed concerns about the decision’s impact on Marine operations, pointing out that 16 of the 17 affected ships have direct USMC equities.
“Without these ships, Marine stand-in forces and Marine Expeditionary Units will lack sea-based transportation, basing, and support capabilities during a strategically vital period for training and readiness,” he told Military.com.