By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Brian M. Brooks, USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) successfully completed a magnetic treatment (DEPERM), March 1.
The ship traveled to the Lambert Point Magnetic Treatment Facility located near Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to undergo the demagnetization process.
"DEPERM is used to change the magnetic signature of the ship in order to reduce its vulnerability to magnetic influence sea mine detection," said Master Chief Machinist's Mate Chris Michalek, George H.W. Bush Engineering Department's leading chief petty officer.
The DEPERM process for an aircraft carrier requireas more than 9,000 feet of cables in order to produce high and low electromagnetic fields which affect the surrounding ferrous metals, such as steel and iron, and changes the magnetic signature of that metal, said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Danni Rogers, the DEPERM Facility Officer in Charge and former crew member aboard George H.W. Bush.
Planning for the magnetic treatment began in November 2011 in order to determine the number of cables, personnel, and time needed for the ship to complete the process.
According to Lt. Andrew Wrobel, electrical officer aboard George H.W. Bush, more than 140 cables were required to wrap the exterior of the ship from bow to stern and from the bottom of the keel to the top of the island in order to complete the process. Eighty-six of the cables were pre-staged in the crib of the DEPERM facility from the piers on the port and starboard sides of the crib with the majority of the cable underwater awaiting the ship's arrival Feb. 27.
Approximately 750 Sailors were required to physically haul the cables around the ship. Once the cables were in place and successfully tested, low and high voltage currents passed through the cables for about nine hours to complete the treatment process.
George H.W. Bush was scheduled for a five-day berth at the treatment facility, but was able to accomplish the task in record time.
"Most ships complete this process anywhere from six to 10 days, but we were able to finish in three," said Wrobel.
"Believe me when I say this is an incredible feat," said Rogers. "The last ship that came through here took nearly seven days. This ship has a great reputation and is going to continue to do great things."
George H.W. Bush Sailors echoed Rogers' praise.
"The Sailors did a great job and stayed motivated the entire time," said Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Lester Cruz, one of the working party supervisors. "This is my third time participating in DEPERM and this was by far the fastest and safest one I've ever been a part of."
George H.W. Bush is homeported in Norfolk, Va. The ship is scheduled to conduct carrier qualifications followed by a maintenance availability in the next few months.
