• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Holiday Heats Up Boilers Aboard USS John F. Kennedy

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS030903-22

Release Date: 9/4/2003 9:55:00 AM

By Chief Journalist (SW/AW) Michael Breeden, USS John F. Kennedy Public Affairs

ABOARD USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (NNS) -- Florida temperatures can peak in August, but aboard the only Mayport-based aircraft carrier, the mercury sizzled in September when Sailors aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), or "Big John," lit one of the ship's boilers on Labor Day.

The crew in the two main machinery rooms erupted in applause as Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Jose A. Moreno of Miami extinguished the torch that lit the flame. After nearly nine months of maintenance, with the engineering plant in a "cold iron" state, Big John's boiler light off put the ship one step closer to rejoining the global fight against terrorism.

"Since joining the Navy, I've done this seven or eight times now. We are lit off, and it feels great," Moreno said.

After a successful six-month cruise last year, followed by three carrier qualifications periods, the 35-year-old carrier moored pierside, where it's been since the scheduled extended selected restricted availability (ESRA) began in January. During that time, the ship's crew and thousands of contractors, some from as far away as Washington State, have worked together, upgrading just about every facet of the ship - from mast to keel, fore to aft.

"My crew and thousands of contractors from North Florida, along the Eastern Seaboard and the West Coast, have worked for months to make this possible," said Capt. Ronald H. Henderson Jr., commanding officer. "In addition to all the maintenance they've completed, Kennedy Sailors have drilled hard for several weeks preparing for the main space fire drill - a critical element of light-off assessment and an important precaution for keeping the ship and crew safe.

"The stakes are high," Henderson continued. "We must be able to successfully combat a main space fire. The crew has tackled all these drills with great spirit and enthusiasm."

Before John F. Kennedy's (JFK) engineering department revived the heart of the ship, the carrier had to pass a rigorous light-off assessment (LOA), conducted by a team of 18 inspectors from Afloat Training Groups Norfolk, Va., and Mayport, Fla.

The group boarded JFK Aug. 27 to survey the ship's material and readiness conditions, eye the crew's ability to fight a main space fire and determine if JFK could safely light off the boilers that provide steam to power the ship.

"The LOA team determined that in terms of material and crew, the aft group was safe for light off," said Master Chief Machinist's Mate (SW) John F. Callahan Jr., the master chief who leads the engineering team. "What this means is that number two and three main machinery rooms and the auxiliary machinery room are good to go and have a clear path to light off."

Once the inspectors gave the nod, JFK prepared to light the boilers. While some shipmates celebrated the Labor Day holiday basking in the summer sun, those on duty cheered when Moreno fired off the number two-bravo boiler in number two main machinery room.

"It's a great day for JFK. It is a culmination of the past nine months of work by all hands, and I'm proud of every single Sailor aboard John F. Kennedy," said Henderson.

With phase one of the assessment complete, the ship now focuses its attention on the inspectors' next visit. The crew hopes to complete the two-phased process later this month.

"We welcome the inspectors and their insights. Like the entire Kennedy crew, they are committed to making the ship the best in the fleet," said Henderson. "This is a critical time in the life of this 35-year-old carrier. We will not operate any systems until they are proven safe and reliable."

As part of the preparations for the inspectors' second visit, Big John's engineers now look carefully at the steam equipment, making sure all repairs are complete before sea trials this fall. Miles of steam piping snake through the 18 levels of the ship.

"Between ship's work force and the contractors, we'll get the necessary repairs completed and the ship ready to get underway," said Callahan, a Metamora, Ill., native.

The lighting of the ship's boilers marks another milestone, as JFK is the first carrier to employ the one shipyard concept. This new approach to maintenance essentially builds the shipyard around the carrier rather than moving JFK from its homeport in North Florida to a shipyard located elsewhere. Through the one shipyard concept, Sailors get to go home to their families at night during the scheduled maintenance - a big boost for morale as underway testing periods, exercises and deployments follow yard periods.

This unprecedented maintenance package marks the largest overhaul ever conducted outside a shipyard.

"We have accomplished a lot of work - both in terms of ESRA maintenance and training - and we still have some to do. We will get it done so we can get back to where we belong - underway," Henderson said.