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Ashland Back in Norfolk Following Maintenance Availability

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081222-05
Release Date: 12/22/2008 5:47:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist First Class Sarah R. Langdon, USS Ashland Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Following a three-month stint at Earl Industries in Portsmouth, Va., USS Ashland (LSD 48) departed the shipyard Dec. 17 and made the brief trip up the Elizabeth River, bringing her to Naval Station Norfolk where the ship will berth for the remainder of the year.

The crew spent the fall and early winter undergoing an extensive CNO availability, receiving more than $10 million in repairs and upgrades to equipment and systems throughout the ship. The availability provided the opportunity to do extensive work on major systems not otherwise possible when the ship is in a operational status.

"Our expectation going into the availability was to repair systems which had undergone extensive use during the 2006 surge deployment and 2008 strike group deployment," said Lt. j.g. Amanda Miller, Planned Maintenance Availability coordinator. "The ship underwent 11 months of deployment in 18 months so this was an opportunity for us to get in there and tend to these systems on a more detailed level."

According to Miller, many systems were upgraded to improve operability, efficiency and capability. Some of these included repairs on the ship's main engines, upgrades to close-in weapons system and one of Ashland's defensive anti-missile systems. In addition, the ship's service generators were upgraded to improve and meet the electrical needs of the ship and two berthings received complete overhauls. These upgrades will allow the ship to keep up operational requirements and support strike group operations until the ship reaches its next availability.

The yard period also provided the ship an opportunity to look at what upgrades and repairs will need to be made at its next scheduled availability.

"The Availability was also a chance to assess where we are with upgrades when we head into our mid-life availability in 2011," Miller explained. "We were able to open tanks that haven't been looked at since the ship's commissioning in 1992. We took apart and got a good look at systems, not normally accessible, to see what needs to be addressed in the near future."

With the yard period behind them, the crew will continue with preparations for upcoming sea trials in the new year as well as work-ups prior to the next scheduled deployment. The crew will spend the next three months going through various damage control and engineering assessments as well as re-certification of its flight deck and well deck.

"We know there will be a few bumps along the way – that's to be expected, but the crew will overcome them," Miller said. "We have a great crew and we fully expect to hit our milestones."

According to Ashland Commanding Officer Cdr. Jeffrey R. Cronin, much was accomplished during the availability and the crew will now focus on getting ready for the ship's next scheduled deployment, slated for late 2009.

"The ship is very proud of its accomplishments, but we know we have great challenges ahead of us in the certification cycle this Spring," Cronin said. "I'm extremely pleased with the work done by the shipyard and ship's force."

For more news from USS Ashland, visit www.navy.mil/local/lsd48.