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Bitzer Carrier Carrier Transicold Chrysler/flirtemp Copeland Dunham-Bush DUim Copeland Fedders Illueller-Climatrol Refcomp Thermo King Trane Ulorthington York Custom Design 1 -800-654-4786 Circle 217 on Reader Service Card hand account. Having lived through the attack as an eight-year-old boy, Retired Admiral Dick Camacho, remembers the day as one that left many people living in fear. Camacho, who now ser\'es as senior vice president for Government Business at United States Marine Repair (USMR), recalls the drama and loss that Ship Repair Profile Camacho Returns to His Roots December 7, 1941, "A day that will live in infamy," is undoubtedly a defin- ing moment in U.S. history. The day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor is again in the public eye with the recent release of Touchstone Pictures' epic Pearl Har bor this past Memorial Day weekend. While the movie provides an interpret ed portrayal of those events, no rendi tion could possibly compare it to a first occurred during "wartime Honolulu." Camacho also recently has added, iron- ically, the responsibility of ship repair yard Marisco to his watch. Located on the site of the former Pearl Harbor Naval Yard, USMR recently signed an agreement to acquire Marisco. Mere proof that Camacho has once again "returned to his roots." By Regina P. Ciardiello, senior editor The acquisition of Marisco by United States Marine Repair (USMR) is expected to be completed soon. As one of two full service shipyards in Hawaii, USMR believes Marisco will provide a strong, local presence to help it win gov- ernment and commercial ship repair. With the U.S. fleet not getting any younger, government financial support dwindling, and a backlog of ships wait- ing to be repaired for deployment, the acquisition may be the first step in help- ing to ensure that the needs of the U.S. fleet are met. With USMR's family of shipyards located in the hubs of San Diego, Calif, and Norfolk, Va., the acquisition will add another strategic locale to USMR's well-positioned facil- ities, as well as serve the need for addi- tional surface ship work on cruisers and destroyers home ported in Pearl Harbor. While Camacho admitted that there is still a lack of funding to support proper levels of ship repair operations, he noted that Congress is set to provide supple- mental funding of approximately $400 million (evenly split between both coasts), to help achieve full readiness in 2001. While this alleviates the fleet's financial problems temporarily, Cama- cho feels "that it's wrong to ask for a supplemental (funding) every year." Which lends to a question that has been asked for the last few years: When will the Navy's needs be adequately funded? According to Camacho. "Money will be funded through advanced planning, which will thus affect all major home ports." While Marisco's work will focus on commercial and Navy work, the bulk will lie in the commercial realm, as the Hawaiian ship repair industry does not attract a large portion of Naval work. 30 www.maritimetoday.com Maritime Reporter & Engineering News
