• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Ceremony Held for First Completed Berthing During Vinson's RCOH

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070712-05
Release Date: 7/12/2007 12:47:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Stephen Tate, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on board USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) June 29, to commemorate the completion of the first refurbished berthing space aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. Carl Vinson is undergoing a refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard.

Carl Vinson's Commanding Officer, Capt. Ted Carter, was on hand to cut the ribbon during the commemoration, and gave his thanks to the Sailors assigned to the ship's Habitability (HAB) Team, who worked to refurbish the space.

“These Sailors set the gold standard with this berthing,” said Carter. “They got it right the first time through, and now we all get to see the fruits of their labor.”

The work put into this completed berthing space was the result of careful and methodical planning by Carl Vinson's HAB team leaders.

Since January 2006, Carl Vinson's HAB Team has worked diligently to rip apart the aircraft carrier's berthing areas and refurbish them with new equipment. This effort is often a thankless job but the Sailors assigned to the HAB Team know their work is vital to bringing the ship back to operational status.

Air Traffic Controller 1st Class (AW/SW) Scott Howe, the HAB Team's leading petty officer, said the work performed by his Sailors is grueling, hot, physically demanding, yet rewarding.

“These guys do some very physical work in very hot spaces,” said Howe. “It can take three Sailors up to four hours to put together some of these pieces of equipment. But we know the work we do here is extremely important for the ship.”

The ship's HAB Team, which is part of Carl Vinson's Operations Department, is comprised of various personnel assigned from divisions within the department.

The HAB Team's effort is being met with ambitious and proactive planning. The team is currently working toward a goal of having all 25 shipboard berthing areas completed by the spring of 2008. The effort is expected to save the Navy more than one million dollars; money that can then be put toward a state of the art gym as well as other comfort amenities for future Carl Vinson crews.

The completion of this newly refurbished berthing area is yet another step toward the completion of Carl Vinson’s RCOH. With the crew's move aboard scheduled for late 2008, Carl Vinson's Sailors will continue to play a vital role in bringing the aircraft carrier back for 25 more years of service to the fleet.