The U.S. Navy’s submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) has entered a dry dock in Portland, Oregon for a scheduled dry-dock phase maintenance availability.
Frank Cable departed its homeport of Guam in March this year and headed for Vigor Marine’s shipyard in Portland to have its systems and equipment repaired and renewed.
Under a $24 million firm-fixed-price contract awarded by Military Sealift Command, Vigor Marine will perform tank inspections, freeboard preservation, sewage tank preservation, engine room bulkhead/structural repairs, main reduction gear repairs and air conditioning plant repairs. Frank Cable will also have its 30- and 5-ton crane repaired, among a number of other procedures.
The submarine tender started its maintenance availability following a successful deployment in 2016, which included port visits to India, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
During Frank Cable’s dry-docking period, sister ship USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) will be the lead repair facility conducting maintenance of submarines and surface vessels deployed in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility.