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USS John F. Kennedy gets a facelift

Navy Newsstand

1/13/2003 3:19:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class Michael J. Scott, USS John F. Kennedy Public Affairs

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- January starts a new year - and begins a new era for USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67).

Having recently completed a successful six-month deployment to the Arabian Gulf, the aircraft carrier will start preparing for its next cruise, starting with an Extended Selected Restricted Availability period (ESRA).

ESRA, a regularly scheduled maintenance period, helps extend the life of ships. Projects totaling more than $200 million will conclude September 2003. This nine-month maintenance period takes place pierside in Mayport, Fla., the ship's home port.

"The ESRA on Kennedy is the biggest one ever conducted outside a shipyard," said Capt. Ronald H. Henderson Jr., Kennedy's commanding officer.

The ESRA work package includes repairs to almost every facet of the ship. Sailors living aboard JFK will move to a berthing barge mid-January until work is completed. The ESRA helps prepare Kennedy for her 18th deployment, slated for 2004.

During underway periods in October, November and December, the Kennedy crew started preparing early for the ESRA. This jump-start facilitates projects slated for the ESRA and will help keep Kennedy on time and on budget.

Main steam systems, sewage systems, electrical systems, piping, tanks, boilers, aircraft elevators and air conditioning systems will get attention. The ship's force repairs will focus on living areas.

"The U.S. Navy considered doing the ESRA in other cities but decided to do it in Mayport - our home. This is a big quality-of-life issue," said Henderson. "We're doing the ESRA in Jacksonville because it's the right thing to do. It's right for the Navy. It's right for the community. And most importantly, it's right for the crew to keep them here with their families."

Earl Industries, L.L.C. and Atlantic Marine, Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla., and Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Corp, Norfolk, Va., won the majority of the Kennedy contracts. These contracts were procured competitively and posted at the Federal Business Opportunities Internet site.