• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Maintenance Pilot Program Merges Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, PACNORWEST IMF

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS030519-15

Release Date: 5/19/2003 3:00:00 PM

By Chief Journalist David Nagle, Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs and Diane Manning, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility Public Affairs

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- The Navy stood up a new maintenance command, created by consolidating two existing organizations in the Pacific Northwest May 15.

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (IMF), created through the consolidation of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Naval Intermediate Maintenance Facility Pacific Northwest, is part of the Chief of Naval Operations' (CNO) "Sea Enterprise" initiative and part of the overarching strategy to build what the CNO refers to as a "culture of readiness."

Adm. Walter F. Doran, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) and Vice Adm. Phillip M. Balisle, commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (COMNAVSEA), participated in the ceremony that merged the two commands.

After speaking of specific efforts made by both commands to ready ships prior to the war in Iraq, Doran said, "You should all be proud of your outstanding work and know that the success of the U.S. Navy in large measure depends on you. The men and women from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Naval Intermediate Maintenance Facility are the unsung heroes of our victory in Iraq, and we know we can count on you as we pursue ultimate victory against terror."

Capt. Clarke Orzalli, the shipyard commanding officer, is commander of the new consolidated command, while Capt. Pete Ozimek will continue to serve as commanding officer of Intermediate Maintenance Facility.

"As new challenges arise, such as rapid ship modernization and SSGN (guided-missile submarine) maintenance, this new organization will be able to flex its combined strength in response to these challenges with innovative solutions," said Ozimek.

The consolidation is part of a two-year pilot program by the Department of Defense to finance the shipyard through Resource Management Systems Funding (mission funding) instead of Navy Working Capital Funding (NWCF). The pilot will improve fleet readiness by allowing the Navy to accomplish the highest priority -- real-time ship maintenance requirements in the year of execution, and achieve the most maintenance effort possible for the tax dollar.

To assure continuing cost visibility of maintenance efforts at the consolidated activity, the NWCF detailed cost accounting system will be applied to the entire regional maintenance effort. Future efficiencies will be achieved with implementation of the Sea Enterprise initiative of Enterprise Resource Program (ERP) tools using simplified acquisition procedures that will enhance the Navy's planning and cost visibility.

A similar pilot at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was assessed in May 2001 by the Navy as successful.

The consolidation will improve maintenance efforts by creating workforce flexibility, reducing maintenance infrastructure through sharing, and consolidating facilities and enhancing Sailors' technical skills through the integration with a skilled civilian workforce.

An important part of the transition to mission funding is the integration of the 1,700-member workforce at IMF with the shipyard's 8,500-member workforce. By integrating the two workforces, the Navy expects to improve flexibility, efficiency and productivity.

"Today's merger will also bring the Navy's 'One Shipyard' concept closer to reality," said Balisle. "This merger we recognize today is very important to that concept because we are teaming PSNS and IMF's best athletes, experience and expertise. As a result, PSNS will be an even stronger, more capable component of our national public yard, a benefit that will be felt Navywide."

COMPACFLT will the major claimant for PSNS and IMF, and NAVSEA will be the operating agent and technical authority.

"This is our opportunity to embrace the future," Orzalli concluded. "Our mission is clear, our potential is limitless and our future is bright. Let's move forward now, and demonstrate the strength and capability of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility team."