One crew member onboard USNS Fisher (T-AKR 301) puts his whole heart into keeping the gears in the heart of the ship’s engine room operating cleanly, safely and efficiently.

“Turning wrenches and getting into engines is what I like to do,” said Wiper Dennison Forsman.

The self-described “gearhead” from Poulsbo, Washington, has the critical responsibility of cleaning and organizing the engine and engine control rooms. His efforts not only keep the engine running smoothly, but they also help increase the lifespan of the surge sealift ship.

“I ensure the bilges are clean of oil, keeping the vessel safe from hazardous situations,” Forsman said.

“I also assist the qualified members of the engine department and licensed engineers with engine overhauls, preventive maintenance and troubleshooting.

“Seeing the end result of a job I’ve been tasked with and receiving praise from my supervisors gives me a feeling of accomplishment.”

To get it all done, Forsman must constantly multi-task, allowing for unexpected requirements and emerging priorities.

“Each day brings new challenges, and a person must prioritize as tasks change throughout the day,” he said.

“It keeps us on our toes.”

As he juggles all the little considerations to get the big responsibilities of a wiper done, he tries learning as much as he can.

“I enjoy the opportunity to be included in jobs outside of my written scope of duties as I definitely want to move up the ladder and eventually get my the [qualified member of the engine department] endorsement and perhaps even become a third engineer,” Forsman said.

Prior to becoming a contract mariner and serving with Military Sealift Command ,he worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, also as a wiper. Then he enrolled in the Seafarers International Union apprentice program. Currently, he is in the fourth phase of that program.

The educational, advancement and exploratory opportunities are what Forsman says called him to a life at sea.

“This career has given me the opportunity to earn a good wage, travel the world and meet new people. I’m looking forward to a world without COVID where there are more chances to go ashore.”