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"Scrub-Ex" Brings GW Closer to Qualification

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090515-23
Release Date: 5/15/2009 6:06:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class John J. Mike, USS George Washington Public Affairs

ABOARD USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) Sailors sprayed the ship's flight deck and hangar bay with the fire-fighting solution Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) May 8.

GW has hundreds of AFFF sprinklers located both under the flight deck and over the hangar bay, which can extinguish an aircraft or fuel fire in emergency situations.

"Testing the sprinklers allowed us to get one step closer to getting the flight deck and hangar bay qualified, so the ship can accomplish her mission," said Chief Damage Controlman (SW) Joe Doherty, who coordinated the drill.

During the tests, about 4,500 gallons of AFFF were released, along with countless gallons of sea water, which make up 96 percent of the substance.

"The test allows the crew to ensure the sprinklers work and locate any deficiencies," Doherty said. "Any kind of system malfunctions must be corrected on the spot because a failed valve or ruptured pipe can cause damage to the ship."

Spraying the flight deck and hangar bay takes hours to test because there is so much coordination involved, but in an actual emergency, the AFFF mixture could spray the entire space in a matter of seconds.

The cleanup, on the other hand, cannot be done in seconds, and that task is tackled by Sailors from GW's air department.

Commonly called a scrub exercise (Scrub-Ex), the AFFF clean-up is also a highly-coordinated evolution. Sailors line up in a row, and a whistle blast signals them to sweep across the deck multiple times with stiff-bristle brooms. The foam is then washed overboard with water.

"AFFF is highly-concentrated soap mixed with sea water. It's biodegradable, so it poses no harm to the ocean," Doherty said.

Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Alberto Pena said cleaning the foam off the deck is tough, but it keeps the scrubbers cool.

"In the summertime it gets hot in here and [the AFFF] is our snow," said Pena, of air department's V-3 division.

Although it's hard work, Gibson said there can be enjoyable moments during a Scrub-Ex.

"It's always fun when unexpected visitors come in and find themselves getting wet," Gibson said.

USS George Washington, the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, departed Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan May 6 for sea trials in preparation for an upcoming deployment.

For more news from USS George Washington (CVN 73), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn73/.