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Wasp Moves to BAE Shipyard

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110114-20
1/14/2011

From USS Wasp Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- USS Wasp (LHD 1) made a "dead-stick" move down the Elizabeth River Jan. 13, to BAE Systems Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va., to begin the multipurpose amphibious assault ship's scheduled Phased Maintenance Availability (PMA).

"This is a $16 million CNO (chief of naval operations) availability primarily focused on critical work in the engineering department," said Capt. Brenda Holdener, USS Wasp commanding officer.

"In addition, we are doing $4.6 million of work for modifications to support the Joint Strike Fighter testing. It is much-needed work to improve the material condition of Wasp."

The PMA is a chief of naval operations maintenance period, less than six months in duration, for the accomplishment of labor-intensive industrial maintenance and modernization. During the availability, the ship will be in an extensive industrial environment with limited hotel services, with electricity and intermittent periods of potable water being available for use.

"While in the yards, Wasp will accomplish upgrades to both boilers and receive needed maintenance throughout the ship to sustain a high degree of condition readiness," said Cmdr. Stephen W. Connell, USS Wasp chief engineer.

The PMA is running concurrently with Wasp's Continuous Maintenance Availability (CMAV), which began in August 2010. While the PMA is specific to the JSF modifications and boiler upgrades, the CMAV is a more general maintenance period.

"There is a lot of work that needs to be done," said Lt. Cmdr. Arthur E. Harvey, USS Wasp maintenance officer. "Our plate is full, but with team work and coordination we will accomplish all of our objectives."

Because the ship will remain pier side for an extended period of time, many Wasp Sailors are using the time to attend schools and off-ship training. It is also a period where the crew can expect a regular schedule of drills to keep their skills sharp and to ensure continuity for when the ship leaves the yards.

"Operational readiness and success in the certification phase starts with effective training and drilling in the yards," said Cmdr. Howard B. Link, USS Wasp operations officer. "It is always a challenge to balance the demands of a heavy workload with a drill schedule, but it is necessary to make this extra effort to maintain readiness."

Wasp, the lead ship of its class, was commissioned July 29, 1989. Wasp is the tenth ship to bear the name Wasp. The 844-foot ship weighs 40,532 tons and carries a crew of approximately 1,000. Wasp was selected in 2010 to be the test platform for the F-35B Lightning II, the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the JSF.