WASHINGTON –
WASHINGTON --
In fiscal year (FY) 2017, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has improved the Navy’s rate of returning ships and submarines back to the operational fleet on time following major maintenance availabilities.
The command, which operates the Navy’s four public shipyards, has addressed its number-one mission priority by better balancing workload and capacity, including growing its shipyard workforce.
“At the start of fiscal year 2017, the four naval shipyards had a capacity that was balanced with their planned workload, due in large part to the significant hiring that occurred in fiscal year 2014 through fiscal year 2016,” said Randy Sawyer, NAVSEA Deputy Director for Naval Shipyard Operations in the command’s Industrial Operations Directorate (SEA 04).
From fiscal years 2013 through 2017, the shipyards hired approximately 17,000 new workers, Sawyer said. As a direct result, the naval shipyards are now on track to complete seven of 10 FY 2017 maintenance availabilities, including all four nuclear carriers, on time or early to the Chief of Naval Operations schedule. This compares to one of nine on time completions in FY 2016, four of 12 in FY 2015 and two of nine in FY 2014.
The rapid growth in the workforce has also required adjustments and innovations in how the shipyards train its workers, including establishing comprehensive learning centers and increasing the use of realistic mockups, Sawyer said.
“Delivering ships and submarines from maintenance availabilities on-time is hugely important in maintenance operational readiness for the fleets,” said Jim Wrzeski, acting director of SEA 04.
“We are restoring material condition and systems readiness so that they can be operated reliably and with confidence by our Sailors in harm’s way.”
In FY 2017, naval shipyards have delivered the following ships and submarines on time or early:
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)
USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)
USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75)
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)
USS Providence (SSN 719)
USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723)
USS Greeneville (SSN 772)
“With roughly one third of our Navy ships and submarines undergoing maintenance at any given time, delivering them back to the fleet on time is NAVSEA’s number one priority for a reason,” said NAVSEA Commander Vice Adm. Tom Moore while addressing the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) fiscal year 2018 Docked Planned Incremental Availability project team earlier this year. Moore stressed the importance of the team’s efforts, saying, “Delays can mean extended deployments and unnecessary hardship for our young Sailors and their families. I encourage you to keep them in mind as you work hard and solve problems for them.”