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New Lab Added to BECC Curriculum at Center for Naval Engineering

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050715-10
Release Date: 7/15/2005 2:17:00 PM

By Eva Kowalski, Training Support Center Great Lakes Public Affairs

GREAT LAKES, Ill. (NNS) -- The Basic Engineering Common Core (BECC) curriculum for the Center for Naval Engineering (CNE) Learning Site at Great Lakes recently got a makeover, when it was augmented with the Master Light-off Checklist (MLOC).

The MLOC, a daily assessment conducted aboard ships prior to commencing a main engine light-off, gives students the hands-on experience they will need in order to pass an actual inspection when they join the fleet after graduation.

“It’s a list of discrepancies – things that you need to check in your engineering plant prior to light-off to ensure systems are aligned right - air systems, water systems, fuel and lube oil systems,” explained Lt. Hubert Hoskins, BECC assistant officer-in-charge. “All of the BECC curriculum applies to MLOC. In the final lab, the students get to apply everything they’re taught through the BECC course in an inspection setting. They have to pass this lab in order to graduate.”

MLOC is part of Module 8 of the course, which summarizes the BECC curriculum, tying together all the material at the end. Aspects of the Engineering Operational Sequencing System (EOSS), which defines the criteria in running an engineering plant, are covered throughout the BECC course. The students spend five days covering MLOC in the final days of the course - four days in a classroom environment and one day in the hot plant, where they must identify various discrepancies.

The checklist they are given ensures all main areas of the plant are assessed. There are 52 discrepancies students must familiarize themselves with and later identify during the final lab in one of the three hot plants at Great Lakes – Steam Propulsion Trainer, Diesel Propulsion Plant Trainer or Gas Turbine Propulsion Plant Trainer, depending on their rating.

During the MLOC assessment in the hot plant, students must ensure all valves are properly attached and labeled, all deckplates and handrails are secured, all gauges have calibration stickers attached, damage equipment is on station and properly stowed, no flanges are missing bolts, no oil is in bilges or drip pans, and a variety of other things.

“You take everything you learn over the 44 days of the curriculum and you apply it to MLOC, which is part of your EOSS,” explained Chief Machinist's Mate (SW/AW) John Turchin, BECC Module 7 leading chief petty officer. “You cannot start or stop any equipment without your EOSS.”

The lab in the hot plants is crafted to accommodate different discrepancies for each class. Since the diesel propulsion plant and gas turbine propulsion plant are fully operational replicas, students get a realistic hands-on experience. MLOC also eases some of the pressure on ships to train new Sailors.

“To talk about deckplates missing screws that hold them down and to see it are two different things,” said CNE Officer-in-Charge Cmdr. Don Nuckols. “When students hear the instructors talk about these things, they can conceptualize what that is, but until they are on the ship and see it, they don’t have a good idea of what a deckplate looks like. When they get to the fleet, firemen are not conducting the final MLOC, but it makes it a lot easier if everyone is working along the same lines.”