Pentagon approves $511M transfer to National Defense Sealift Fund from O&M

The Pentagon recently approved a $510.8 million transfer from the Navy's operations and maintenance account to the National Defense Sealift Fund, according to an internal reprogramming action.

The bulk of the transfer, $274.5 million, will support service life extensions for ready reserve force ships, engineering requirements for eight vessels and maintain three fleet facilities, according to a June 27 reprogramming action signed by Pentagon Comptroller David Norquist.

The transfer of $157.1 million supports 10 Large Medium-Speed Roll-on/Roll-off (LMSR) ships in five-day reduced operating status, five legacy Maritime Prepositioning Ships, one enhanced MPS, two Dry Cargo/Ammunition (T-AKE) ships, one Offshore Petroleum Discharge System (OPDS) vessel and tender, and two Mobile Landing Platform ships, according to the internal reprogramming action.

An additional $55.5 million is set aside to maintain and operate two hospital ships, eight Expeditionary Medical Support Facilities, four Expeditionary Medical Units and four Forward Deployable Preventive Medicine Units. The shift also maintains a five-day reduced operating status for the hospital ships Comfort (T-AH-20) and Mercy (T-AH-19) and continues a phased service life extension program for the Mercy.