WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Navy recently completed a service life extension program (SLEP) on Yard Patrol 686 and returned the modernized craft to the U.S. Naval Academy on May 14, according to the Navy’s Program Executive Office-Ships (PEO-Ships).
The SLEP for the vessel began in August 2019 and was executed in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard at its Curtis Bay shipyard in Baltimore. YP 686 is the fourth of 12 craft planned to receive an extensive overhaul and modernization package.
Work items executed throughout the availability covered nearly every portion of the craft, including wooden hull and deck repair, habitability upgrades and overhaul and modernization of the propulsion and electric generating equipment. This SLEP effort will enable the craft to remain in service for another 10 years.
The 108-foot wooden-hulled YP craft were originally delivered to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, between 1986 and 1988 and have been continuously utilized to train midshipmen on piloting, seamanship, navigation and engineering. The training is designed to help midshipmen develop the essential skills required of an officer-of-the-deck, such as proficiency in navigation and a working knowledge of afloat operations with modern systems essential to seamanship and navigation.
“Recapitalization of the YP craft is a direct investment in the proficiency and technical capability of our Navy’s future leaders,” said Mike Kosar, program manager of the Support Ships, Boats and Craft Program Office within PEO-Ships. “The SLEP will ensure our midshipmen will continue to have the platforms they need to gain the skills that will be required of them at sea.”
Follow-on craft availabilities are scheduled to continue through March 2022 utilizing both the Coast Guard and commercial shipyards.
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