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Blue Ridge Damage Control Teams Demo Capability During Critical Assessment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081113-14
Release Date: 11/13/2008 6:00:00 AM

By Story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Josh Cassatt, USS Blue Ridge Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) completed its light off assessment (LOA) Nov. 6 after successfully demonstrating readiness in lighting off and steaming its boilers following the ship's restricted availability (SRA) period.

During Blue Ridge's LOA, Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76 assessment teams came on board to conduct main space and boiler inspections and evaluate the ship's repair lockers' damage control and fire prevention effectiveness.

During the first phase of LOA, displaying an effective main space firefighting capability, Blue Ridge's repair locker teams passed on the first attempt.

"Our main space fire drill was the first milestone that we passed, and to pass it the first time is exceptional," said Senior Chief Damage Controlman (SW) Wesley Leif Lairson, Blue Ridge's damage control training team coordinator. "Everybody involved in that -- propulsion, the repair organization and the rest of the crew -- all performed very well."

The main space firefighting drill was such a success that the assessment team did not have to do a specific debrief on it during the LOA out-brief, said Chief Warrant Officer Willie Williams, Blue Ridge's damage control assistant.

"That is a testament to the people in the repair lockers, their knowledge of damage control and firefighting and their motivation to train," Williams said. "We are so proficient in our main space firefighting that it has become routine for us. The inspectors are just watching us do the main space drills the way we do them every day."

After the main space fire drill the team moved on to cold checks, during which each division in the engineering department was subjected to equipment checks to ensure the ship's electrical and propulsion systems are operational and up to standards after it had been cold iron. Cold iron is when the ship's boilers are not producing any steam and its engines are not running for more than 120 days.

For the engineering department, the LOA was a smooth process because its Sailors were well-trained and motivated, said Machinist Mate 1st Class (SW) George Saik, Blue Ridge's fire room leading petty officer.

"The fire room as a whole was very well prepared," Saik said. "A lot of measures were taken to ensure we were ready for the LOA. Our Sailors have been working hard throughout SRA 2008 getting their equipment ready, making the spaces presentable, practicing cold checks, and making sure the plant was safe to steam."

Engineering was more than ready to show their spaces and capabilities to the assessment team, having practiced and executed countless dry runs and pre-checks prior to the LOA, which really paid off once show time arrived, Saik said.

"Everyone did an outstanding job," Saik said. "Motivation was high; plant knowledge was good, and everyone knew how to present their space to the inspectors."

The LOA went smoothly for Blue Ridge, despite still being in SRA and having personnel from Yokosuka's Ship Repair Facility (SRF) on board conducting repairs and maintenance on the ship's boilers and electrical distribution system.

"We're trying to operate as much of our equipment as we can," Lairson said. "We're working around SRF; they're trying to finish up their work, and we're trying to show our equipment."

Blue Ridge executive officer, Cmdr. Timothy "Van" Cooke, expressed his appreciation to the crew for its efforts in getting the ship ready for its light off later this month.

"You guys are it; you are the 'A' team, and you proved it," Cooke said. "You guys are [the] reason why we passed this."

Blue Ridge is commanded by Capt. Thom Burke and serves under under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7/CTF 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force. Blue Ridge is the flagship for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. CTF 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.

For more news from USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), visit www.navy.mil/local/lcc19/.