The crew of the USS Emory S. Land may be at sea for weeks on end but that doesn't mean they have to skip visits to the dentist, post office, hairdressers or even the shooting range.
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The US Navy ship, described as a floating naval base and shipyard, has docked in Melbourne for a week before heading to Perth to work on an Australian navy vessel.
About 300 US military members and 180 civilians live aboard for up to years at a time, including 36 Australians who are learning how to maintain nuclear-powered submarines before Australia's fleet arrives in the 2040s as part of the AUKUS agreement.
It's the first time a US Navy ship has visited Melbourne in eight years but the crew won't be carrying out their usual ship maintenance, instead meeting local members of the armed forces, veterans and exploring the city.
"We wanted to learn more about what's going on in Victoria, we wanted to do community outreach about the science and technology efforts that also underpin the AUKUS agreement," Commanding Officer Captain Brent Spillner said.
The ship functions as a self-contained town with its own fire department, ATM, post office and health facilities.
Australian sweet chilli chips are flying off the shelves of the ship's shop, which turns over up to $US40,000 per month, while the nearby barber is capable of taking 20 clients per day.
The main gathering place is the colourful vintage diner decked out with old school memorabilia and capable of feeding up to 200 people at a time.
"This was actually redone when the ship was based in Italy about 20 years ago, so we had Italian craftsmen who were very eager to do a 1950s diner theme," Capt Spillner said with a laugh.
The simulated firing range deep in the bowels of the vessel allows sailors to maintain their weapons qualifications under any scenario.
The Australians aboard are skilled electricians, toolmakers, mechanics and other tradespeople but the American crew has helped them specialise further, Able Seaman Marine Technician April Fraklin said.
"We do a bit of everything, but here they really get down to a specific (skill)," Ms Fraklin said.
Royal Australian Navy Commodore Greg Yorke said the exchange had allowed Australian crew to become comfortable with advance solar and other technology on modern US nuclear-powered submarines.
"That's the future where we're heading, so they're on the ground floor of that ride to the top," he said.
Australian Associated Press
