WASHINGTON - Lt. Cmdr. Bomono “Bones” Emessiene, a member of the Naval Sea Systems Command Supervisor of Salvage and Diving’s (SUPSALV) Reserve Unit, qualified last month as Heavy Lift Project Officer (HLPO) after successfully completing an oral board chaired by Capt. Sal Suarez, director for SUPSALV and Ocean Engineering. The achievement marked the end of a multi-year qualification process for Emessiene, who is now certified to provide technical oversight on behalf of SUPSALV for the onboard, transfer, and offload of naval assets onto heavy lift ships. Emessiene is one of only three HLPOs serving in the Navy.
“SUPSALV’s Reserve Heavy Lift Unit consists of sailors who have learned the unique skills and qualifications necessary to design, supervise preparation, and execute heavy lift operations,” said Capt. Suarez. “The Heavy Lift Project Officer is a key figure in the process who supervises the docking, blocking, stability calculations and services necessary to transport Navy ships via commercial Heavy Lift asset. Our Reserve Unit is proud to have qualified Lt. Cmdr. Emessiene who will serve an important role with our Heavy Lift Unit, ensuring the safe and efficient transport of Navy vessels and to train and qualify a cadre of new reserve unit sailors learning the heavy lift process.”
“Heavy Lift” is the term used to describe the process of when a large vessel is “floated” onto a submerged deck of a specially designed transport ship designed to carry ships at sea. Unlike a drydock, the heavy lift vessel may travel thousands of miles and cross oceans with its cargo. The heavy lift process involves detailed calculations, keel block assembly, and fabrication of stabilization structure to ensure successful transport.
The Navy’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving provides technical, operational, and emergency support to the Navy, Department of Defense, and other federal agencies in the ocean engineering disciplines of marine salvage, towing, pollution control and abatement, diving and diving system safety and certification, diving and salvage equipment procurement, and underwater ship husbandry.