NNSY Completes USS Boise Availability Early

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class submarine USS Boise (SSN 764) finished her maintenance availability one day early at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Aug. 31, completing the largest modernization package to date on a Los Angeles-class submarine at the shipyard.

Improving performance on submarine availabilities has been a major emphasis of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Commander, Vice Adm. Kevin M. McCoy's "Back to Basics" initiative.

"Back to basics" is about eliminating bottlenecks and optimizing the workday to improve shipyard processes with the goal of completing quality availabilities, on time and on cost.

"Los Angeles-class submarines are the toughest product line we shipyards face," said NNSY Submarine Program Manager, Oliver "Buddy" Bennett. "We have put a lot of effort into improving this area of our business at NNSY."

Additionally, NNSY Lean efforts, designed to improve the quality of work processes, improved the co-location of the project team and facilities for mechanics onboard Boise. Co-location minimizes lost work time due to travel and increases time for productivity on the site. Other NNSY submarine projects benefiting from enhanced co-location include USS Augusta (SSN 710) and the current availability for USS Tennessee (SSBN 734).

"We stayed focused doing the right things at the right time," said NNSY Project Superintendent Billy Cox. "Our work integration team did an outstanding job integrating 23,000 mandays of modernization."

Boise team leaders said the spirit of teamwork was essential during the project, which drew on personnel from Norfolk Naval Shipyard, ship's force, Alteration Installation Teams, and-as part of the One Shipyard concept-a Portsmouth Naval Shipyard team.

NNSY is one of four NAVSEA public shipyards that play a major role in maintaining America's fleet and providing wartime surge capability to keep the nation's ships ready for combat.