Vella Gulf crew remains onboard while ship is stricken with more mechanical problems 1 hour ago A convoy complied of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser Vella Gulf, MV Resolve, center, and USNS Benavidez (T-AKR 306) steam in formation in the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 28. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Waters/Navy) The guided-missile cruiser Vella Gulf has suffered yet another “engineering casualty” preventing it from deploying — and it’s unclear how long it will take to fix. “During pre-underway checks, crewmembers discovered debris in a main reduction gear lube oil strainer,” U.S. 2nd Fleet spokeswoman Lt. Marycate Walsh said in a statement. “Technical representatives are onboard the ship to diagnose the issue and determine a way forward. We do not have an estimated time to repair at this time, however leadership continues to work with technical experts, who have been onboard 24/7, to evaluate and assess the best course of action for both ship material readiness and crew well-being.”