Ships maintenance, repair and modernization overseas: requirement concepts and funding issues in maintaining material readiness of deployed forces

Abstract

This thesis identifies material readiness and the effects of funding constraints on surface ship maintenance and repair requirements overseas. A background discussion of innovative surface ship maintenance and repair concepts is provided. The identification of material readiness and funding issues is accomplished through an examination of overseas surface ship maintenance resource requirements, focusing on the regional areas of Western Asia and the Mediterranean Sea. An assessment of alternative source maintenance costs, underlying issues confronting overseas maintenance and repair contracting, and the effects of current and projected funding trends are presented. The resulting research provides supportive evidence that mobile repair ship capability has, and will continue to be, a critical prerequisite to sustain material readiness of deployed forces in remote geographical location during periods of regional crisis.