Advertisement

US NAVY: Navy deploys Mothership

USS Ponce, which had been slated for decommissioning in March 2012, has arrived in Bahrain to act as an interim Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB-I). Formerly designated as an amphibious transport dock (LPD), the 41-year-old ship has been converted to provide workshop and repair facilities in support of mine countermeasures operations and other missions and also serve as a floating base for helicopters, coastal patrol ships and special forces. She also has the capability to embark and launch small riverine craft.

The newly reclassified AFSB will be manned by a ‘hybrid’ crew comprising 150 Military Sealift Command civilian mariners and 55 US Navy sailors, all under the command of a US Navy Captain. The ship is the navy’s first ever dedicated afloat forward staging base and will remain at her current location and in her current role until a more permanent solution can be found.

Ships Montly - January 2024

Ocean Network Express new Transpacific Service to start in February 2025

On 28 March 2024 Ocean Network Express (ONE) announced its new Transpacific service is due to start in February 2025. In alignment with the company’s...
Advertisement

Related articles

Ocean Network Express new Transpacific Service to start in February 2025

On 28 March 2024 Ocean Network Express (ONE) announced its new Transpacific service is due to start in...

Storylines and Brodosplit shipyard renew ship building contract for residence ship

Storylines, a pioneering company in the residential ship industry, has renewed a shipbuilding contract with Brodosplit shipyard based...

World’s oldest cable layer in Greece

Celebrating her 115th birthday this year is the Greek cable laying ship Thalis o Milisios (Thales of Miletus),...

Damen to deliver two ASD Tugs 3010 to Norway

On 20 February 2024 Damen Shipyards Group signed a contract with BOA Group for two ASD Tugs 3010...