USS New Orleans (LPD 18) entered a dry dock in Bahrain April 25 to continue repair work on the ship's hull. The Navy signed a firm fixed-price contract with Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY) Shipyards in Manama, Bahrain to repair New Orleans.
The repair contract includes planning efforts, material procurement, pre-fabrication and dry dock repair work and is expected to be completed in 10 to 14 days.
The amphibious transport dock was damaged in a collision with USS Hartford (SSN 768) March 20, 2009.
The ship dry docked in ASRY Shipyards Graving dock located in Manama, Bahrain. Two commercial vessels are in the graving dock at the same time as New Orleans, Motor Vessel Virginian and Ensco-97. Virginian is a U.S. flagged munitions ship often contracted by the Military Sealift Command. Ensco-97 is a Liberian flagged oil drilling rig owned by U.S. based Ensco International Incorporated.
While New Orleans will be repaired in Bahrain, U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command engineers determined that Hartford will be repaired in the United States. The submarine recently completed sea trials and is underway, making a surface transit back to her homeport of Groton, Conn.
Prior to the submarine's departure from Bahrain, Master Chief Machinist Mate (SS) Jon Wells relieved Master Chief Electronics' Technician (SS) Stefan Prevot as "Chief of the Boat," the senior enlisted Sailor aboard Hartford.
The appointment of Wells, who is assigned as Hartford's engineering department master chief, is expected to be temporary. A new Chief of the Boat is expected to be named by the time Hartford arrives in Groton.