Truman Reaches Major Propulsion Plant Milestone

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120416-20
4/16/2012

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David R. Finley Jr., USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) along with Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) partners reached its propulsion plant production completion date (PCD) April 7.

Reaching this major milestone marks the end of propulsion plant work in Truman's docking planned incremental availability (DPIA).

"While PCD is largely considered a shipyard production event, Truman Sailors largely contributed by setting the plant conditions for all the shipyard work, retesting the systems after work was complete and finally restoring the system back to operational status," said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Sims, reactor maintenance officer.

Upon reaching PCD, Truman's Reactor Department closed more than 10,000 NNSY work authorization forms (WAFs), 2,500 ship's force WAFs and certified more than 4,700 ship's force composite unit phases, accounting for more than 130,700 man hours.

"PCD is important for the ship because it defines the availability completion date," said Sims. "The large amount of testing required to make the propulsion plants ready for sea trials lasts about 90 days."

NNSY recognized the teamwork necessary to reach this major milestone.

"The task at hand was a very large undertaking," said Steve Erickson, one of the deputy project superintendents. "It could not have been possible without the cooperation of ship's force and our contractors."

Truman's reactor department is set to begin the testing phase as part of DPIA in anticipation of Truman returning to the fleet this summer.

Truman's DPIA is the largest availability NNSY has scheduled.