{"id":69105,"date":"2021-03-17T18:26:18","date_gmt":"2021-03-17T18:26:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/03\/17\/vella-gulf-suffers-new-fuel-tank-casualty\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:42:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:42:55","slug":"vella-gulf-suffers-new-fuel-tank-casualty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/home\/left-column\/2021\/03\/17\/vella-gulf-suffers-new-fuel-tank-casualty\/","title":{"rendered":"Vella Gulf suffers new fuel tank casualty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The stricken U.S. warship Vella Gulf<\/a> got back underway this past weekend but quickly returned to port following a fuel leak in the same tank that sidelined the guided-missile cruiser\u2019s deployment late last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials are still assessing whether the latest fuel tank casualty that emerged as the ship steamed near the Virginia Capes was caused by the same corrosion and leakage issues that prompted the ship\u2019s U-turn back to Norfolk last month after deploying with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 27-year-old Vella Gulf got underway last weekend \u201cfollowing the recommendation of technical experts\u201d and returned to Norfolk on Sunday, U.S. 2nd Fleet spokeswoman Lt. Marycate Walsh said in an email to Navy Times this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The original leak on Vella Gulf \u201cwas due to a single tank corrosion, normal for seagoing vessels,\u201d she said, adding that a maintenance team is working to determine whether the latest leak is tied to the prior casualty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are confident in the work completed to identify defects and repair the tank earlier this month,\u201d Walsh said. \u201cThe tank was inspected by qualified structural engineers and corroded and pitted areas were evaluated using established engineering methods and standards. Repairs were completed when required.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t