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GW Leading Way in Ship Rehabilitation

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061120-23
Release Date: 11/20/2006 5:28:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Laura Rabe, USS George Washington Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- Teams of Sailors aboard USS George Washington (GW) (CVN 73) have been diligently working a series of habitability projects, and as of November 20, these Sailors have completed the first 50 officer staterooms and are actively working on an additional 23 staterooms.

Since GW entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in September, Sailors have been busy with a major rehabilitation program for living spaces aboard the ship.

The habitability team is comprised of approximately 240 GW Sailors and is divided into three groups: the berthing, head team, and stateroom rehab teams. The Sailors are split into teams according to their preference and skill level.

By having ship’s force do the work instead of civilian contractors, the Navy will save approximately $3 million.

“We have people who already have experience in areas like tile laying, painting and lagging who will be put with others in order to train and teach them,” said Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class (AW) John Euler of Rehab Team.

The stateroom rehab team is comprised of more than 90 of GW’s own. The stateroom team is divided into three different divisions: a paint prep team, a tile team and a finishing team. All in all, the Sailors are tackling 273 staterooms.

The berthing team is responsible for 561 racks, painting all the lockers and bulkheads, removing the decks, labels, stencils, overhead markings, and retiling the decks.

The Head Habitability Team is responsible for ripping out 10 heads slated to be refurbished as millennium heads, using the salvaged parts and assets for other heads throughout the ship.

“This is a massive project which gives our young Sailors an opportunity to learn some basic construction tasks,” said Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Krieger, the assistant habitability officer. “It also builds immeasurable pride in preparing the ship to go to Japan.”

Lt. Rodney Moss is the state room habitability officer. He is responsible for rehabbing 273 staterooms, consisting of 746 racks and 20 associated closets. The project also requires that all bulkheads and overheads are painted, all decks are retiled, 20 bulkheads re-lagged, and all entrance doors are sandblasted and powder coated.

“To have civilians come in and do 273 staterooms would be a very enormous price tag,” said Moss. “By using ship’s force and being able to train them, we are saving money out of operational target (OPTAR) and from the cost of the labor.”

“We have set goals not only of finishing the yard period on time and under budget, but of saving as much money as possible by having ship’s force do a large portion of the work,” said Rear Adm. Garry R. White, GW’s commanding officer. “That’s exactly what we did in our last DPIA at Newport News, and that’s exactly what we intend to do now.”

“The team is working very hard to improve the quality of life for those aboard GW,” said Capt. Kent Whalen, GW’s executive officer. “They’re also saving the taxpayer a significant amount of money, and instilling considerable pride in the people who are doing the work.”

“The team will deliver the staterooms on time and under budget,” Moss added. “Each and every Sailor involved in the rehab program is very excited to knock the socks off of the people who are going to live there.”