US Navy cruiser completes first maintenance period in Singapore

Ship maintainers and crew from the U.S. Navy’s Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) have completed a continuous maintenance availability (CMAV) period in Singapore making it the first CMAV conducted away from the U.S. 7th Fleet maintenance hub in Yokosuka, Japan.

During the two-week availability which was completed September 9, Shiloh’s crew and shipyard personnel completed more than 90 maintenance jobs and nearly 400 other jobs by ship’s force personnel, including a gas turbine generator change-out, repairs to the ship’s damage control systems, and multiple welding upgrades on brackets and fixtures.

“By conducting this availability here in Singapore, we are expanding our ability to conduct planned maintenance outside Japan and decreasing the overall work overload,” said Cmdr. Fernando Maldonado, assistant chief of staff for maintenance at Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific (COMLOG WESTPAC)/Commander, Task Force (CTF) 73.

“With our pivot to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, we’ve increased the number of ships and also increased our operational tempo,” said Capt. Adam Aycock, commanding officer of Shiloh. “As a result, the need for maintenance has increased. Having the flexibility to conduct ship’s maintenance from alternative locations is very helpful for fleet readiness. I think we are leaving Singapore in a much better condition materially, with higher morale, and ready for the next mission.”

Located in Singapore since 1992, COMLOG WESTPAC is U.S. 7th Fleet’s provider of combat-ready logistics, operating government-owned and contracted ships to keep units throughout 7th Fleet armed, fueled, fed, and maintained. Additionally, Task Force 73 is 7th Fleet’s theater security cooperation agent for South and Southeast Asia.