Stennis Ends Maintenance, Starts Work-ups
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080328-10
Release Date: 3/28/2008 7:08:00 AM
By Lt.j.g. Chad Dulac, USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs
USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- One prolonged blast from USS John C. Stennis' (CVN 74) whistle peals through the morning Bremerton air signifying the ship getting underway for the first time in over six months.
Stennis concluded her docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) 50 miles off the coast of northwestern Washington following a highly successful sea operational testing period known as Sea Trials, March 27 that tested maintenance upgrades made to several of the ship's systems.
Stennis entered dry dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) Sept 28, 2007 to ensure the longevity of the ship and return tax payer's investments by making the ship a more efficient, capable and deployable combat platform prepared to protect national interests.
The successful merger of talent and project management by Stennis, PSNS and Intermediate Maintenance Facility were instrumental in preparing the ship to get underway and complete her Sea Trials with distinction.
"From day one - 12 months prior to the start of our DPIA, the Stennis/PSNS team established the best practices of ship/shipyard teams in order to make the probability of success as high as possible," said Stennis' Commanding Officer, Capt. Brad Johanson.
The main element that integrated so many organizations for DPIA was the actual planning and communications that began months prior to the start of the availability.
"We established an expert and mutually supportive team leveraged on talent, identifying the leadership as key players in advance and kept those players in their roles throughout DPIA," said Stennis' Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department Officer, Cmdr. Timothy Pfannenstein. "Success of this DPIA came from the zone managers who never lost focus, were flexible and were able to manage resources easily."
Zone managers were designated advocates from each ship board department that were responsible for managing their individual department's work packages throughout DPIA.
From the top of the ship to the bottom, Stennis received system component upgrades in nearly every major department to include Engineering, Reactor, Combat Systems and Air Department.
"From our propulsion systems, to our information technology systems, to the preservation of the tanks, non-skid, re-tiling, paintwork, etcetera ad infinitum. This has been an incredibly productive period in the shipyard," said Johanson.
While in DPIA Stennis was able to create a completely new mezzanine in the forward hangar bay to support the new helicopter maritime strike squadron, resurface the entire flight deck with non-skid surfacing, complete four aircraft elevator alterations and preserve and maintain the entire island structure.
"Ship's force Sailors alone painted 650 spaces, tiled 215 decks, completed over 400 lagging insulation jobs, painted and hung 200 doors, completely rehabilitated 10 berthing spaces from deck to bulkhead and expended an enormous 411,000 man hours to complete nearly 7,000 work requests," said Pfannenstein.
Stennis' Combat Systems (CS) department, responsible for maintaining the ship's self defense systems, on board communications, radar systems, and internal computer local area network (LAN) incorporated several new upgrades to multiple areas within their department. The ship now has a greater capability to defend itself against incoming attacks by way of the Extended [range] Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM).
"The ESSM provides a lot better defense capability, providing more accurate mid-range defense for the ship," said Combat Systems Officer, Cmdr. Greg Gaskey. "ESSM's utilize the same Sea Sparrow launchers but are a completely different missile."
Increasing the ship's over the horizon awareness, CS also installed the Communication Data Link System/ Video Interface Group (CDLS/VIG).
"CDLS/VIG allows our forward-looking aircraft to feed video footage directly back to the ship for intelligence purposes in real time," said Gaskey.
Maintaining communications aboard ship and increasing bandwidth for internet usage was also a significant upgrade during DPIA. The ship implemented 850 new computers, both secret and unclassified, bringing the performance level of the ship's LAN up to Windows XP, mirroring the civilian sector and providing a higher communication capable ship from an operational perspective, added Gaskey.
Some of the most significant additions to the ship during DPIA were made to the ship's propulsion system. While dry docked at PSNS, Stennis replaced all four main propulsion shaft seals that prevent sea water from entering the ship, as well as all four five-bladed propellers weighing over 30 tons each. Stennis' engine throttle controls also received upgrades by replacing the hydraulic throttle control with a newer electronic throttle control that allows the ship to respond more quickly to engine orders and ship's speed changes.
"Despite a 20 percent work increase to our originally submitted work package we still managed to complete our test program two days early. I attribute that to the hard work and dedication of the men and women of Reactor Department, in concert with the efforts of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard," said Reactor Officer, Capt. David Sheridan. "Very few nuclear aircraft carriers finish their test programs on time, let alone early."
"We are ready to get underway, and that will occur on time," said Johanson.
Stennis' Sea Trials constitute the final determination of the ships' material readiness and ability to rejoin the fleet as a fully operational unit. While underway the ship will engage in many evolutions to test the recent modifications and upgrades. These tests include: Testing the steam-powered catapults, propulsion throttle control tests, full power engine tests, optimal speed rudder and high speed turn checks, as well as conducting man overboard, general quarters and steering casualty drills.
Upon successful completion and certification of Sea Trials, DPIA will be officially completed and Stennis' next mission will be to begin qualifying aircraft for landing aboard ship.
For more news from USS John C. Stennis, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn74/.
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