Naval Mobile Construction Battalion - 11 Seabees Raise Quality of Life for Coalition Forces

Courtesy Photo | A tanker refills with oil off the coast of Iraq at the Al Basrah Oil Terminal. Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion - 11 are currently renovating facilities on ABOT in order to upgrade quality of life conditions for coalition forces serving there. NMCB 11, whose homeport is Gulfport, Miss., is currently deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.  

03.06.2009

Story by Chief Petty Officer Nicholas Lingo 

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet           

NORTH PERSIAN GULF - Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion - 11 are currently performing upgrade and renovation projects aboard Iraq's Al Basrah Oil Terminal.

The majority of the work being done on ABOT consists primarily of quality of life upgrades to a majority of the installation facilities including the Morale Welfare and Recreation spaces, and the internet cafe. The galley is being upgraded to allow for more room and the restrooms and berthing quarters are being renovated to ensure better living conditions aboard the oil terminal.

This is the first deployment for NMCB 11 and this unique project has proven to be very beneficial for the Seabee battalion.

Petty Officer 1st Class Emily Fowler, the work center supervisor, is elated at the way the crew has come together and grown as leaders.

"My Sailors are very experienced now and I can send them off to do projects I know they're going to take care of for me."

Even when the project required extra help to ensure taskings were completed without a hitch, the Seabees worked seamlessly through the transition.

"Our entire battalion has melded together very well," said Fowler. "They're learning and helping each other out a lot."

There have not been many setbacks on the jobsite with the exception of the weather. Due to the location of the platform approximately 16 nautical miles from Iraqi coast, everything has to be shipped in. Heavy winds and rough seas often delay the delivery of materials.

As a whole, this small cohesive unit of Seabees aboard ABOT continues to press on. NMCB 11 keep's with the unofficial Seabee mottos, "With willing hearts and skillful hands, the difficult we do at once...the impossible takes a bit longer."

NMCB 11 is currently deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom.

• Date Taken: 03.06.2009
• Date Posted: 03.06.2009 10:02
• Story ID: 30808