TINIAN, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (March 23, 2023) – Bubbling under the waters at the Port of Tinian, a team of Sailors from Underwater Construction Team (UCT) Two could be seen welding zinc anodes to the north quay wall earlier this year. UCT Two’s repair work was part of an ongoing series of improvements to Tinian’s harbor.
The dual-use port is the key supply gateway for the residents of Tinian and supports military operations in the region. The U.S. Navy built the port in the 1940s and it has been subject to the effects of constant exposure to the elements. In 2018, detailed infrastructure assessments by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicated the port was suffering from significant corrosion. Improvements have been underway since 2020. These improvements included the repair of crumbling bollards and resurfacing aging concrete. When it came time to conduct underwater construction repairs, a team of specialists was brought in: UCT Two.
UCT Two, under Navy Expeditionary Forces Command Pacific Task Force 75 (CTF 75), is a specialized group of U.S. Navy divers who provide responsive military capabilities for underwater and waterfront engineering, construction, and repair in support of Navy and Marine Corps operations.
UCT Two sent three different detachments to work on the project over the past two years: Construction Dive Detachment (CDD) Alpha, Beta and Charlie. The most recent detachment, CDD Charlie, has been working on repairs and corrosion control in the port since December 2022.
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