{"id":45154,"date":"2021-12-15T20:25:14","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T20:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/12\/15\/how-an-undersea-volcano-nearly-sidelined-this-navy-ship\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T14:09:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T14:09:57","slug":"how-an-undersea-volcano-nearly-sidelined-this-navy-ship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2021\/12\/15\/how-an-undersea-volcano-nearly-sidelined-this-navy-ship\/","title":{"rendered":"How an undersea volcano nearly sidelined this Navy ship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The brand-new expeditionary sea base ship Miguel Keith<\/a> was nearly sidelined last month after debris from a massive undersea volcanic eruption gummed up vital ship systems, according to Japan-based U.S. 7th Fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commissioned in May, Miguel Keith was operating off Japan when the remnants of the volcanic eruption made themselves known.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It began when Fukutoku-Okanoba<\/a>, an undersea volcano about 800 miles southeast of Japan, erupted on Aug. 13, sending pumice stones and debris into the air and surrounding waters, an event believed to be the biggest of its kind in the area since World War II, according to the Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The volcano\u2019s summit sits just 80 feet below the surface, according to NASA, and satellite imagery soon revealed \u201cexpansive gray pumice rafts\u201d floating in the surrounding waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPumice is one of the only types of rock that can float due to a combination of surface tension and the many air-filed holes and cavities found within the rock,\u201d according to NASA. \u201cRafts of rock can drift in the ocean for months or even years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Satellite imagery shows a floating “pumice raft” drifting west after an undersea volcano erupted off Japan in August. That raft would go on to gum up the works of expeditionary sea base Miguel Keith, which was operating in the area. (NASA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And while the dangers of pumice to ships like Miguel Keith are well-known, aviation and marine warning systems for such eruptions remain in development, according to NASA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miguel Keith soon encountered the pernicious pumice as it operated near Okinawa in late October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon, pumice began clogging strainers on the ship\u2019s sea chests, which bring in seawater for firefighting, equipment cooling and other needs, according to 7th Fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of that debris was so small that it passed through the ship\u2019s strainers and entered critical propulsion systems, Miguel Keith\u2019s commanding officer, Capt. Troy Fendrick, said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOver time, pumice ingestion plagued virtually the entire engineering plant,\u201d he said. \u201cClogs caused high temperatures in both port and starboard coolers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such coolers are critical in moving water to cool propulsion and electrical generating equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make matters worse, that volcano pumice jammed up stern tube seal pumps and evaporators as well, which are used to make potable water, according to Fendrick.<\/p>\n\n\n\t