The U.S. Navy is confronting a significant manpower crisis that could force 17 support ships into extended maintenance, putting vital logistics operations at risk. The issue stems from a shortage of qualified civilian mariners, leading the Navy and Military Sealift Command (MSC) to consider reassigning crews from the affected vessels to other ships in the fleet.
The plan would impact a range of support ships, including two Lewis and Clark-class replenishment ships, a fleet oiler, 12 Spearhead-class fast transports, and two forward-deployed expeditionary sea bases. The reassignments could free up between 600-700 mariners for the broader MSC fleet. The USS Lewis Puller, stationed in Bahrain, and the USS Herschel “Woody” Williams, based in Greece, are among the ships that could be affected.
This crisis is the result of years of neglect and mismanagement, according to former MSC mariners and defense experts. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the situation, as harsh restrictions and extended deployments led many mariners to quit. The high turnover rate has left MSC struggling to recruit and retain qualified personnel, putting the Navy’s global resupply and refueling capabilities in jeopardy.
Sal Mercogliano, a former mariner and professor of history, criticized the management of the force, saying, “They are just burning through people.” The Navy’s attempts to address the problem include repositioning mariners, but with limited options, the future of these support ships—and the vital role they play—remains uncertain.
