December 19, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release #147-10

Mobile Diving Unit Protecting US 5th Fleet Waters

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Stumberg

MANAMA, Bahrain - Divers assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, homeported at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va. are deployed to Bahrain in support of Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) dive operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

“Anti-Terrorism/ Force Protection dives are used to prevent terrorist attacks on U.S. assets,” said Senior Chief Navy Diver Joseph Pendino.

AT/FP dives are a protective measure against explosive devices that could be attached to U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command or commercial ships. MDSU 2 conducts dives on barges, tugs, or piers that come into close contact with any U.S. vessel or property.

“Whenever we go out on a regular AT/FP dive, we have a coxswain who’s normally the dive supervisor,” said Navy Diver 1st Class Jon Neal. “We also have one diver, one stand-by diver, and one line tender, so the whole team consists of four people.”

Neal said that in the event of rough weather, they bring a fifth person to be the dive supervisor so the coxswain can focus on navigation.

“Any time you dive there’s risk involved, a lot things can happen,” said Neal. “In an emergency situation the dive supervisor can act as a line tender so two divers can be in the water.”

MDSU 2 has completed more than 60 AT/FP dives since arriving in Bahrain in September. Responsible for all of U.S. 5th Fleet, MDSU 2 is highly deployable and ready to move at a moment’s notice.

Since the Oct. 12, 2000 attack on USS Cole (DDG 67), U.S. authorities are more aware of the dangers associated with high-volume ship traffic. Cole was attacked by suicide bombers, who detonated an explosive-laden boat against her port side, tearing a hole in the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers engineering compartment. The attack took the lives of 17 Sailors while the ship was anchored in Aden, Yemen, for a routine refueling stop.

If Navy Divers from MDSU 2 discovered an explosive, they would work hand in hand with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 1 to neutralize the threat. Both MDSU 2 and EODMU 1 bring resources, expertise and experience to ensure the protection of U.S. assets.

MDSU 2 is deployed as part of Combined Task Group (CTG) 56.1 to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.