Maintenance Professionals Exchange Ideas Aboard USS Emory S. Land

MANILA, Philippines (NNS) -- Sailors from the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) gave a presentation on the SUBSAFE submarine quality assurance program and maintenance life cycle planning to sailors from the Philippine navy Dec. 11.

The exchange took place on board Emory S. Land and gave both parties an opportunity to discuss their different capabilities and maintenance philosophies.

"The SUBSAFE program was most interesting," said Lt.j.g. Jorge Delos Reyes, a repair officer for the Philippine navy. "We still don't have submarines and are in the process of implementing them into our navy."

Reyes explained that the Philippine navy has a warranty-based maintenance program which primarily focuses on repairing items when they break. SUBSAFE is a preventative style of maintenance, which replaces parts before they break. A must for the safe operation of submarines.

During the presentation, Emory S. Land representatives also discussed life cycle maintenance planning and philosophies. The exchange was interactive, with many questions asked and answered.

After the exchange, the sailors toured the different repair facilities on board.

"It's just like in our shipyard where we have many machinery and metal shops," said Reyes.

Emory S. Land's visit to the Philippines continues the U.S. Navy's ongoing commitment to theater security, cooperation, and friendship with local partner navies.

Emory S. Land is a forward deployed expeditionary submarine tender on an extended deployment conducting coordinated tended moorings and afloat maintenance in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations.