Kennedy Returns to Sea
Navy Newsstand
Story Number: NNS031114-06
Release Date: 11/14/2003 12:37:00 PM
From USS John F. Kennedy Public Affairs
ABOARD USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (NNS) -- USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) got underway Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. for the first time in almost a year.
During a five-day underway period, known as sea trials, the crew will conduct rigorous operational tests on newly installed or improved systems. Sea trials also marks the first opportunity for the ship's crew - 45 percent of whom have never gotten underway with Kennedy - to practice important seamanship and navigational skills, preparing Big John for its next deployment.
"The crew has been waiting for this moment since we moored for our maintenance several months ago," said Capt. Ronald H. Henderson Jr., Kennedy's commanding officer. "Big John is back in the fight."
During the recently completed extended selected restricted availability, or ESRA, the crew worked with contractors painting, welding and renovating berthing compartments, offices and common areas. The unprecedented maintenance project marks the largest ever conducted outside a naval shipyard.
Combined, contractors and crewmembers invested more than 600,000 man-hours recapitalizing the 35-year-old ship. They completed more than 10,000 jobs during the extended selected restricted availability.
"Now that ESRA is done, it's time to for JFK to get back in the ballgame," said Airman Kemoya Gray. "We'll soon get back to the real work of launching and landing aircraft. "I've been waiting for this moment for almost a year."
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