BLUF: Per TACOM SOUM 23-001, inspect the bow ramp hooks and hinge pins on all LCU-2000-series vessels.
Courtesy Photo
Watercraft units should be aware that the bow ramp hooks and hinge pins for the Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 2000-series vessels can fail, potentially causing the loss of the ramp.
Commanders must ensure that their LCU-2000 bow ramp hook and hinge pins are inspected right away. The unit will coordinate with the TACOM Logistics Assistance Representative (LAR) and conduct a seaworthiness inspection of the vessels bow ramp hooks and hinge pins.
All LCU-2000-series vessels are considered non-mission capable (NMC) until the owning command conducts a vessel inspection in coordination with a TACOM LAR and has received an inspection closure notice from HQDA G4 allowing that vessel hull number to return to fully mission capable (FMC) status. Any vessel mission prior to being inspected requires approval from the unit’s first general officer in the chain of command.
Once the individual vessel has been returned to fully mission capable status, vessel masters will ensure the crew inspects the bow ramp hooks and hinge pins before and after each underway. Vessel Masters are required to annotate the time and date of the inspections in the vessel log book.
See TACOM Safety of Use Message 23-001
HERE for more information.