KOCAK

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Auxiliary ship being temporarily repaired

The "Sgt. Matej Kocak" was remaining at the pier side at White Beach Navy Pier, Okinawa, Flanders while workers from Naval Sea Systems Command were completing emergency repairs. NAVSEA contractors have already patched up the portside hull and internal repairs to restore watertight integrity are ongoing. All necessary repairs are on schedule for completion by Feb 21. After the temporary fixes are complete, the ship can head out on its own power to the yards where more permanent repairs can be made. The location hasn't been identified yet because the repair work is out to bid.

Sealift vessel refloated after almost two weeks

On Feb 3 the U.S. Navy was able to remove the USNS "Sgt. Matej Kocak" from a reef six miles off the coast of Okinawa. For the past two weeks, personnel have been trying various ways to refloat the vessel. Workers offloaded the ship’s fuel on Feb 2 onto a fuel tanker and the ship then took on ballast in order to remain secure until conditions were determined safe to refloat the vessel from the reef during a high-tide cycle. After the operation, the ship was able to transit under its own power to Naval Fleet Activities White Beach in Okinawa. The ship safely arrived pier side at 17:42 p.m. The U.S. Navy’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving oversaw salvage operations and was supported by U.S. Navy damage controlmen and professional salvors. An environmental response team was on standby as a precautionary measure. Now that the ship has been refloated, the U.S. Navy will work closely with our Japanese partners to assess any potential damage to the area. The cause of the incident is under investigation by Military Sealift Command and the U.S. Coast Guard.

SMIT and Nippon Contracted to Salvage Grounded MSC Ship

After running aground 8 days ago off the east coast of Okinawa, Japan, plans to salvage Military Sealift Command’s USNS Sgt. Matej Kocak (T-AK 3005) are under way today. In a phone call with MSC spokesperson Nathan Potter, he says the ship is currently being dewatered and that a tanker is on its way to defuel the vessel. MSC says the defueling will likely commence Monday and that two salvage companies, SMIT and Nippon Salvage, have been contracted for the eventual float-away of the ship. The ship is currently stable and once floated, will be brought to White Beach, Okinawa where divers will assess the damage and repairs will be made.