By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Jason T. Poplin, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs
MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Following a three-month stay in a floating dry dock at the Mina Salman Pier, USS Ardent (MCM 12) returned to sea May 23.
USS Ardent's dry dock period was part of a routine service restricted availability that occurs approximately every 60 months in the life of Avenger-class ships.
"She's coming out of dry dock looking really good," said Lt. Cmdr. Jose Roman, USS Ardent's commanding officer. "A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into the ship to bring it to the state that it is in right now."
USS Ardent is one of four mine countermeasures ships forward-deployed in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR). The ship and its crew of 83 personnel report to Mine Counter Measures Squadron (MCM) 5 in support of theater security cooperation events, survey operations and mine warfare exercises and operations in the area.
The ship went into dry dock February 17 to be renovated from top to bottom, inside and out.
"The ship was lifted out of the water, and we did a lot of preservation and maintenance on the hull, props, rudders, suction and overboard discharges," Roman said.
The ship also received maintenance, preservation and refurbishment to its crew quarters, galley, engineering plant and radars.
"Without material readiness, we can't support operational readiness," added Roman.