The gushing compliment and appreciation came from Capt. Deidre L. McLay, USN, Commodore, Maritime Prepositioning Ships Squadron Three.
Island residents may not be familiar with McLay’s long title, but should be very aware of the ships anchored just beyond Saipan’s coral reef that make up part of her command.
Variety toured one of the ships – the USNS Major Stephen W. Pless – and its professional personnel, cargo and capabilities were thoroughly impressive.
The Journey To Sea
“Saipan’s Crew Boats,” a privately contracted service operates a regular daily ferry schedule to transport personnel among the various anchored ships.
Although the 20-minute boat ride out and back posed no surprises, the transfer between the tug-like boat to the ship was a somewhat perilous and scary adventure for a novice.
This reporter felt like an ant trying to scale Mt. Tapachao as the shuttle bobbed up and down at the ship’s waterline where the rope ladder awaited to climb up to the ship’s cargo door.
The journey was nerve racking but the expert shuttle boat crew safely guided our group onto the ship (this reporter made the mistake of looking back down the ship’s side and experienced a jolt of panic at the realization that in a few hours she would be exiting the ship down the same rope ladder!).
Luckily, our group’s tour guide banished the thought with an enthusiastic “Welcome abroad.”
The Cargo
“Our squadron consists of ten ships with a total cargo value of $19 billion,” stated Commodore McLay
Yes, you read it right – BILLION.
USNS Pless’s portion sits at approximately $1.9 billion.
Yes, you read it correctly again – about 19 times higher than the NMI’s entire government budget.
The gargantuan price tag began to sink in once our group descended into the ship’s fully air conditioned belly and the sight of row upon row of pristine cargo came into view.
Imagine walking among enough equipment and supplies to sustain an entire Marine Expeditionary Brigade for 30-days an impressive site indeed.
Again, this reporter felt miniscule while she stood among the colossal tanks positioned in neat exacting rows and lashed to the floors with two-inch-diameter chains.
The latest Humvee vehicles equipped with state-of-the-art blast proof glass were also impressive to view up close and would have been a kick to take for a test-run.
As our group moved through the ship, we veered up and down among the numerous deck levels stacked one on top of the other and jammed with a wide range of vehicles and supplies in addition to tanks and Humvees.
John Deere appeared to be a major supplier with its name painted on many specialized vehicles ranging from forklifts and tractors to earth movers.
The USNS Pless’s mission of housing and delivery of prepositioned supplies in times of regional conflict includes critical medical supplies that spend their life cycle in air-conditioned containers to ensure effectiveness for the treatment of wounded soldiers.
However, cargo – no matter how well maintained – would be useless to the Marine’s mission unless the ship itself sustained its perpetual readiness for deployment in as little as 24-hours.
To support the USS Pless’s readiness are engine and control rooms that look like something out of “The Matrix” movies; area upon area of interconnected systems that are awesomely impressive in both complexity and volume.
In order to maintain such varied ship systems an expertly trained and US Coast Guard certified staff of around 30 work in constant rotational shifts 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.
Into The Light
Exiting into the sunlight and fresh air on the stern’s outside deck just below the helipad was relief from a bit of below-deck claustrophobia caused by darkness and close quarters.
To describe the view of Saipan as beautiful and the winds as refreshing from sea is a colossal understatement.
In addition to the breathtaking views of the island, the deck itself from stern to bow amazed the eye with the amount of stored equipment and the crane that sat ready to transport it off the ship.
One type of equipment that was incredible in both size and function was the Improved Navy Lighterage System that acts as mini-tug and barge scheme to transfer equipment from sea to shore.
In order to off-load these gargantuan pieces of expensive equipment, two mechanical monster cranes lord over the deck ready to provide the muscle for the mission.
The ship’s dedicated civilian crew has found ways to relax their own muscles when not on duty; fishing being one of the most enjoyable.
Off the stern, that crew has rigged a pump for the baitfish and cast over the railing down 35-feet into the crystal blue waters of the Saipan sea.
The crew regaled our group with stories of big fish stories but our visit only yielded modest catches and unfortunately, no fresh tuna for lunch.
Instead, the ship treated us to an on-board lunch of superb food and stories of life as merchant mariners plying to ocean’s seas.
This reporter for one sleeps better knowing there are both civilian and military professionals on watch while the rest of us go about enjoying the umbrella of freedom and liberty.
“This is a very special group of people and mission,” commented McLay, “and I would highly recommend young women and men explore the vast opportunities in both the military and Merchant Marine.”
To all those who serve the same mission in the cause of liberty: Merry Christmas from your Saipan hosts!
For more information on this extraordinary squadron visit www.msc.navy.mil/mpsthree/.
