Carl Vinson Readies for Crew Move Aboard

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Erin Oberholtzer, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs
Tugboats assist USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as she transits down the James River while moving from dry dock to a nearby pier at Northop Grumman Newport News shipyard. Carl Vinson is currently undergoing her scheduled refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. The RCOH is an extensive yard period that all Nimitz-class aircraft carriers go through near the mid-point of their 50-year life cycle. During RCOH Carl Vinson’s nuclear fuel will be replenished and the ship’s services and infrastructure will be upgraded to make her the most state-of-the-art aircraft carrier in the fleet and prepared for another 25 years of service. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matthew Campbell (RELEASED)

As USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) prepares for its Crew Move Aboard (CMA) this August, Sailors assigned to the ship's zone management division are coordinating efforts to ensure essential spaces are completed and ready when Sailors begin to live and work aboard once again.

Sailors assigned to the zone management team are experienced deckplate leaders, often first class petty officers, who oversee designated areas of the ship and facilitate ship's force production and integration with the shipyard project team.

"We have made tremendous progress throughout RCOH, and we're working hard to make our CMA deadline," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (AW/SW) William Davis, leading petty officer for the division. "It has and will take a lot of work, but we are committed to meeting our goals."

In preparation for CMA, Carl Vinson zone managers coordinated the installation of new decking material for hundreds of shipboard spaces. They also provide oversight on required system testing procedures, completing a sizeable portion of testing required to facilitate the crew's return to the ship.

"It has taken an enormous amount of planning and preparation to get this far," said Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class (AW) Gary Sanders. "With all of the jobs we're responsible for, the fact that we have kept everything so organized is really amazing."

The direct efforts of the Sailors assigned to the zone management division helped the project team prepare more than 1,000 spaces, many which are key living spaces aboard ship and essential to CMA.

"We have all these jobs in and out of our system in a very timely and efficient manner," said Sanders. "The number of jobs we're working on changes hourly, and with every day that we work, we accomplish a huge amount of progress for the ship and the crew."

Carl Vinson is undergoing its scheduled RCOH at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. The RCOH is an extensive yard period that all Nimitz-class aircraft carriers go through near the mid-point of their 50-year life cycle.

During RCOH Carl Vinson's nuclear fuel will be replenished and the ship's services and infrastructure will be upgraded to make her the most state-of-the-art aircraft carrier in the fleet and prepare for another 25 years or more of service.

Bataan Departs Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Returns to Sea

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Pedro A. Rodríguez, USS Bataan Public Affairs

Amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) transits the Elizabeth River on her way to the Norfolk Naval Ship Yard, for a nine-month dry-dock phased maintenance availability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Pedro A. Rodriguez)

USS Bataan (LHD 5) left the Norfolk Naval Shipyard after an eight month dry-docked planned maintenance availability (DPMA), May 5.

Some major jobs completed aboard Bataan were completion of a seawater compensated fuel system modification and upgrades to support the newest vertical/short take off and landing Marine Corps aircraft, the MV-22 Osprey.

The fuel compensation modification changes the way the fuel tanks aboard the ship are emptied. As fuel is used, the emptying tanks fill with seawater, so the ship's stability is not reduced as fuel is burned while underway.

"The biggest thing with this modification is stability, but it also requires less manpower to operate, and to some extent, reduces the risk of fuel spills," said Chief Machinist's Mate (SW) Donald Woodard.

The upgrades for the MV-22 Osprey aircraft were made in the hangar bay, flight deck, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department, and supply aviation storage spaces.

"We got a new avionics work center and two metal bending shops specifically for the MV-22," said Chief Aviation Electrician's Mate (AW/SW) Chad A. Vance. "We can now meet the operational requirements of the aircraft."

During the DPMA, many members of Bataan's crew worked on other needed repairs. The paint team, directed by Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) (AW/SW) Hector M. Arroyo, expended thousands of man hours to paint more than 250 spaces, saving thousands of dollars.

"We had two shifts; the main job of the day shift was to prepare the spaces for the night shift, who came in at night to get the spaces painted," said Arroyo.

Other jobs aboard included repairs to the crew living spaces, enhancing the quality of life for crew members who live aboard the ship. Crew members fixed more than 2,000 racks in 17 living spaces throughout the ship.

"We prepared all living spaces so the paint team could save time painting the spaces," said Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Alexander N. Pisanello, assigned to the rehab team. "We also installed toilets, shower heads, sinks and mirrors."

The main machinery rooms also received repairs and upgrades. Bataan had four fuel oil manifolds removed; many fuel tanks were combined into four groups and are now compensated with sea water.

"There were hundreds of feet of new piping installed, and old-style tank level indicators were removed and replaced with radar indicators," said Woodard.

During the eight months the ship was in the yards, Bataan's Sailors never lost ownership of their ship. The Sailors stood duty aboard, manning some of the critical spaces, which required a lot of flexibility.

During the DPMA final phase, Bataan conducted her light off assessment, which ensures engineers can safely light off and steam the plant. The events conducted include a management program review to ensure the ship is in accordance with all governing documents and a safety walk-through is done to make sure the material readiness of the main spaces can support the safe light-off.

"The preparations started the day we entered the shipyard," said Woodard. "We had to clean, paint and preserve the engineering spaces."

All equipment is checked using the preventive maintenance system or master light off checks.

"All checks are followed up by a main space fire drill to ensure the ship's fire party can properly fight a main space fire," said Woodard.

"It was eight months of hard work," said Capt. Rick Snyder, Bataan's commanding officer. "We were faced with a lot of challenges in different areas, and we are ready to get back to sea and our nation's tasking."

Theodore Roosevelt Moves to Shipyard

Photo: Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Lucas Friend and Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Derek Benedict stand watch with a .50-caliber machine gun aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) during transit to Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is currently underway to Norfolk Naval Shipyard for Docked Planned Incremental Availability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman William Weinert

By Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Matt Bullock, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) made a four-hour plus transit of the Elizabeth River in Hampton Roads on March 7, on her way to Norfolk Naval Ship Yard for a nine-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA).

The Navy’s fourth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier will undergo more than 90 major modifications, including a JP-5 (fuel system) alteration and installation of a new electronic throttle system in the ship’s propulsion plants. The ship also will receive a rolling airframe missile modification for the Close-In Weapons System, and a local area network (LAN) system upgrade.

Roosevelt's maintenance manager, Lt. Cmdr. Scott Shea, said quality of life improvements, such as 10 new “millennium” restrooms and 12 refurbished restrooms, will help make shipboard life more comfortable for the crew. Some of the modifications began taking place prior to the ship’s arrival at the shipyard.

“We planned on refurbishing the heads while we were in the yards, but we’re working ahead of schedule,” Shea said. “We want to accomplish as much as we can as soon as we can, and it looks like we’re off to a good start.”

Shea also said more than 600 racks will be replaced and four berthing areas completely renovated.

In all, Shea said more than 500,000 man hours will be spent upgrading and repairing the ship during the yard period.

During a general announcement to the crew March 6, Commanding Officer Capt. J. R. Haley said although productivity is important in this evolution, safety takes priority in all situations. He said the ship’s goal is to complete the progression efficiently, yet expeditiously.