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Carl Vinson Damage Control Division gets AFFF System Up and Running

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070625-18
Release Date: 6/25/2007 5:08:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Candice Villarreal, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- USS Carl Vinson’s (CVN 70) damage control (DC) division began preparations to bring the aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) system back to operational status June 4, at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard.

Carl Vinson is slated to have four functional AFFF stations on line by September for the first time since 2005 when the ship entered dry dock for its refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) and discharged its fire mains.

The 16 remaining stations are scheduled to be operating properly before Carl Vinson leaves the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard at the end of its scheduled 40 month RCOH.

“The AFFF system is vital to the ship, and we’re looking forward to getting it back on track,” said Damage Control Fireman Andrew Smetana, of Carl Vinson’s Engineering Department. “It’s our first line of defense against most fires on board.”

The Navy developed AFFF in the 1960s to combat class “Bravo” fires, which is a fire fueled by flammable liquids. The synthetic foam spreads quickly across the surface of most fuels, forming a film that smothers the vapors and helps cool fuels. It has since become a staple for ships and Sailors around the fleet.

Carl Vinson’s DC team has been working diligently to refurbish the ship’s AFFF pipes, and overhaul and repair many valves associated with the aircraft carrier’s AFFF system. The crew will also replace fuses, color-code pipes, repair switch boxes, check fire main pressure, and calibrate the system’s gauges in the coming months.

“We’re going to be able to handle our own casualties again, and that’s a big step in getting Carl Vinson back out to sea,” said Smetana. “It’s a great feeling to have our systems coming back on line, and be able to protect our ship once again.”

Carl Vinson is currently undergoing its scheduled refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. The RCOH is an extensive yard period that all Nimitz-class aircraft carriers go through near the midpoint of their 50-year life cycle.

During RCOH, Carl Vinson’s nuclear fuel will be replenished and the ship’s services and infrastructure will be upgraded to make it the most state-of-the-art aircraft carrier in the fleet and prepare it for another 25 years or more of service.