SRF-JRMC Dive Lockers Celebrate Unprecedented Success in Fiscal Year 2024

YOKOSUKA, Japan – Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) has proven to be exceptionally challenging for the SRF-JRMC Dive Lockers, tackling an array of complex missions.

Throughout the year, divers from SRF-JRMC, based in Yokosuka and the Detachment in Sasebo, were tasked with 18 fly-away missions. These involved urgent CASREPS and unforeseen repairs across diverse locations including Singapore, Guam, Manila, Malaysia, Subic Bay, and Thailand. Collaborative efforts were crucial, requiring coordination with multiple entities such as Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific, Commander Task Force 73 (CFT-73), Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility. The hard work of these divers ensured all mission goals were achieved, supporting every Forward Deployed Naval Fleet warship in the 7th fleet area of responsibility without affecting the scheduled production in Yokosuka or Sasebo.

In December, divers executed tasks in three separate locations at once. This included aiding the USS Manchester (LCS 14) in Singapore, the USS Oakland (LCS 24) in Guam, and working with Mobile Diving & Salvage Unit-1 onboard the USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52) during salvage operations following an Osprey crash near Yakushima, Japan. Their work involved critical personnel recovery and gathering necessary information for an Air Force post-crash investigation team.

In Sasebo, SRF-JRMC divers completed over 230 underwater ship husbandry dives as part of the regular maintenance for forward-deployed vessels. Additionally, they engaged in complex technical tasks including troubleshooting propeller systems on the USS Rushmore (LSD 47) and overseeing a precise repair on the New Orleans (LPD 18).

Yokosuka’s divers accomplished 469 underwater ship husbandry dives, including the final repair availability on USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) before its redeployment to the U.S. They collaborated with the UK Ministry of Defense for urgent running gear inspections on HMS Spey (P234), enabling the ship to continue its Pacific Patrol without dry docking.

SRF-JRMC Yokosuka Dive Locker, with support from Sasebo, participated in various operations outside their immediate commands in FY24. They conducted underwater cutting and welding procedures for pier repairs in Yap, Micronesia, and assisted with fleet mooring chain repairs in Yokosuka. Notably, they supported a significant repair task on the USS Canberra (LCS 30) in San Diego.

Looking ahead to Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), the schedule is anticipated to be even more rigorous as additional ships are integrated into Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) and U.S. naval patrols across the Pacific increase. To accommodate this, SRF-JRMC Yokosuka Dive Locker is expanding its team by qualifying more Japanese Master Labor Contractors in diving operations, ensuring continuous operations despite U.S. Navy divers being away from their home base.

Regardless of the challenges in FY25, the SRF-JRMC Dive Lockers remain committed to their guiding principle, “Nan Demo Dekimasu!” or “We Can Do Anything!” For over 75 years, the U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF-JRMC) have been pivotal to U.S. naval endeavors in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, delivering critical intermediate and depot-level repairs for the fleet.