Navy Could Sideline 17 Support Ships Due to Manpower Issues

The U.S. Navy is considering sidelining 17 support ships due to a significant shortage of qualified mariners. The Military Sealift Command (MSC) has identified two replenishment ships, one fleet oiler, and twelve Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transports (EPF) for an extended maintenance period, which would allow their crews to be reassigned to other vessels. This plan, informally referred to as the "great reset," aims to alleviate the strain on the MSC workforce, which currently operates with a challenging ratio of 1.27 mariners per billet. The proposed changes could free up 600 to 700 sailors, improving the crew availability for newer support vessels. The retention issues have been exacerbated by demanding work schedules and the impact of COVID-19 restrictions, leading to increased resignations among mariners. The MSC operates a fleet of logistics ships that are crucial for refueling and resupplying Navy vessels globally, but the current operational demands have created an unsustainable work-life balance for mariners. The plan is pending approval from Navy leadership and reflects ongoing challenges in managing personnel within the MSC.

- The Navy may sideline 17 support ships due to a lack of qualified mariners.

- The proposed plan aims to improve crew availability and work-life balance for MSC personnel.

- Current mariner-to-billet ratios are unsustainable, leading to retention issues.

- The "great reset" could free up 600 to 700 sailors for other assignments.

- The plan is awaiting approval from Navy leadership.