NORFOLK, Virginia - USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) departed Norfolk
Naval Shipyard (NNSY) May 22 following the successful completion of its Carrier
Incremental Availability.
Truman marked the first Carrier Incremental Availability
performed at NNSY. These shorter carrier availabilities are usually performed at
Naval Station Norfolk. The 15-week availability began in November, but Truman's
time at NNSY was extended to allow for additional work to be performed.
"There were many advantages to performing the availability here
at Norfolk Naval Shipyard," said Project Superintendent Nick Gianacakos. "NNSY
is logistically better prepared to perform and support maintenance utilizing Job
Readiness Cells, shop resources and readily available engineering support. NNSY
and Ship's Force maximized the team approach and executed this shortened
availability above expectations."
Major tasks completed on Truman included modernization of the
propulsion plant, main engine and attached lube oil pump repairs as well as
major inspections of the catapult launch system. NNSY work was comprised of
approximately 135,000 man-days, with support also provided by Ship's Force,
Multi-Ship/Multi-Option (MSMO) contractor, Newport News Shipbuilding and
Alteration Installation Teams (AITs).
Twenty percent of the U.S. Navy's carrier force has been under
the care of NNSY over the last several months. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)
is now in the final stages of its Docking Planned Incremental Availability, a
more comprehensive modernization event. To support continual production on this
concentrated availability, Job Readiness Cells (JRCs) were placed for the Truman
project team in both the carrier hangar bay and on the pier. JRCs provide
mechanics tooling and consumables in an area conveniently co-located next to a
project, supporting nonstop execution of work.
As part of the One Shipyard concept, project team leaders
traveled to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility to
examine JRCs in execution on a carrier availability. "The JRC was utilized by
the mechanics and zone managers and real-time feedback contributed to an ongoing
improvement throughout the availability," said Gianacakos. JRCs on the pier will
remain in place for the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) project team performing
NNSY's next carrier availability.
Project team leadership also credited strong communication and
cooperation with Ship's Force. Working together, project team and ship leaders
provided beneficial resources such as mentor coaching, additional advanced
planning team training, and facility enhancement.
Truman is the Navy's ninth nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and
the eighth in the Nimitz class. The ship was launched in 1996 and delivered to
the United States Navy in 1998.
Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, is one of the
largest shipyards in the world specializing in repairing, overhauling and
modernizing ships and submarines. It's the oldest and largest industrial
facility that belongs to the U.S. Navy. Under NAVSEA's "One Shipyard" concept,
the naval shipyards level the workload and mobilize the work force across the
yards to best ready the Fleet and stabilize a vital industrial base for our
nation's defense.