Nnsy News

The Navy wants, and needs, more ships; but it can’t build them fast enough.While the U.S. Navy aims to achieve a 355-ship fleet, it is decommissioning older (and some not so old) ships at about the same rate it's adding new ones.A Congressional Research Service report stated that, as of April 17, 2023, the Navy included 296 battle force ships. "The Navy projects that under its FY2024 budget submission, the Navy would include 293 battle force ships at the end of FY2024 and 291 battle force ships at the end of FY2028."But there is progress…

U.S. shipyards are making improvements to building ships for the Navy and Coast Guard today and in the future. In some cases, it means phasing out one class of ship and getting ready for the next. Or, it can be a drastic make-over.The yards include mid-tier yards all the way up to very large facilities devoted exclusively to warships. The ships range from the 353-ton Fast Response Cutter to the 100,000-ton nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin…

Naval shipyards and industry partners see business growing, but finding enough trained and qualified workers is a challenge.General Dynamics Electric Boat will invest $1.7 billion to modernize and upgrade its Quonset, R.I. and Groton, Conn., facilities over the next ten years,” said Sean Davies , vice president for EB’s Quonset Point Operations. “Here at Quonset, we are investing $700 million that will increase our outfitting space by 13 acres, to support work on the Virginia and Columbia class of submarines.

Captain Dianna Wolfson took the helm Friday as the 110th commander of Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) and first female leader in its 253-year history.Wolfson also holds the distinction of becoming the first female commander of any of the nation’s four public shipyards when she assumed command in June 2019 of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF).This marks her third NNSY tour, with previous assignments as Operations Officer and Project Superintendent for the USS Newport News (SSN 750) Engineered Overhaul.NNSY…

Imagine conducting ship checks and training aboard a ship without ever leaving your office. At Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), this has become a reality thanks to virtual reality.NNSY's Radiological Control Special Projects and Refueling Division (Code 105.26) has collaborated with the Nuclear Fluid Systems and Mechanical Engineering Division (Code 2320), the Nuclear Refueling Engineering Division (Code 2370), and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) to create laser scans of vessels…

Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Wyoming (SSBN-742) arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) on January 9 for refueling and upgrades as part of a 27-month Engineered Refueling Overhaul (ERO). In a first for the shipyard, Enlisted Women at Sea ship alterations will be performed on board, modifying the layout of berthing areas. Other work will be similar to the shipyard's ERO currently being conducted on USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740), allowing the Wyoming project to leverage off experience gained during that overhaul project.

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) departed Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) for Sea Trials July 21 following a 10-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA). Truman's Commanding Officer, Capt. Ryan B. Scholl, praised ship forces, NNSY and civilian contractors for working together to stay on schedule and making an on-time departure from the shipyard. "The number one goal for this ship over the last year was making it better than when it arrived here," said Scholl. "This excitement, enthusiasm and teamwork is what propelled us out of the shipyard. Critical work during the availability, which began last September, included upgrades to the ship's internal and external communication network…

Capturing complex bends on pipes is an art form members of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Pipe Group have harnessed for many years. Now entering a more modern era with a new dual-head pipe bending machine, NNSY is able to create more precise bends in a fraction of the time, thanks to modern, automated controls. Originally, pipe benders would have to work on a semiautomatic machine where everything would have to be measured exactly and each bend would have to be checked with a protractor to guarantee the needed dimensions were captured. It was tedious work and there was a risk of wasted material should the measurements not equate to what was needed.

Norfolk Naval Shipyard successfully completed USS Maryland's (SSBN 738) engineered refueling overhaul (ERO) on Feb. 24. EROs are complex, major shipyard availabilities that extend a submarine's service life. In addition to being refueled, nearly all of the ship's systems were overhauled or modernized. Modernization work included replacement of distilling plants with a reverse osmosis unit, installation of an upgraded 500 kilowatt motor generator, electric power plant work, and LAN upgrades. The project team met several key milestones on this overhaul, including setting a new best for the shipyard in safety performance on an SSBN availability…

A tool designed by Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) employees will make servicing ships' breakers more efficient. Breakers prevent overloads and potential electrical fires in shipboard electrical systems. A Navy submarine typically contains 20 to 30 breakers, and an aircraft carrier has approximately 50. In order to service a breaker, a shipyard worker must flip the 540-pound unit repeatedly. The task is arduous, time consuming, and often requires several workers to accomplish the re-positioning in a safe manner. With the new tool, a single worker may maneuver the breaker with ease. The tool was the brainchild of NNSY Second Year Apprentice Adam Fahy. Fahy himself is no stranger to manual labor. In his spare time he enjoys working on cars and engines.

The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) has left dry dock and moved from Dry Dock 8 to pier 42/43 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in Portsmouth, Va. informs USN. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower  has been in dry dock since September 2013, conducting a scheduled docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) period. "Without the excellent work of the ship's team leaders and zone managers, the ship wouldn't have been ready when it was," said Lt. Cmdr. Jeremy James, Ike's maintenance manager. James said the ship's force and NNSY personnel worked well together, completing approximately 12,500 jobs prior to flooding the dock. Brian Bennett, the Ike DPIA project supervisor, said the undocking is the first of many major key events to come for the Ike project team.

The Naval Sea Systems Command announced the selection of Rear Adm. (sel.) Gregory R. Thomas as the next commander of Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY). He is currently serving as the commander of Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY&IMF). Capt. Brian Osgood has been selected as the next commander of PHNSY&IMF. Rear Adm. (sel.) Thomas will be responsible for overseeing a business base of submarines, carriers, ships and intermediate level maintenance at NNSY and will be the 104th shipyard commander of NNSY. Capt. Osgood is currently serving as Maritime Readiness Branch Head on the OPNAV N43 staff. Capt. Osgood will become Pearl's 45th shipyard commander. Thomas is a native of Portsmouth, Va.

The Navy announced on September 8 its decision to deepen approximately five miles of the Norfolk Harbor Channel in the Elizabeth River. This action will allow the continuous safe and expeditious travel of aircraft carriers to and from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) and the Lamberts Point Deperming Station. Dredging this heavily-used waterway, which is the federal navigation channel within the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake, would occur from the Lamberts Point Deperming Station in the Lamberts Bend Reach, south to NNSY in the Lower Reach. Dredging would occur completely within the existing Army Corps of Engineers-maintained federal navigation channel.

Capt. William C. Kiestler relieved Rear Adm. (sel.) Richard D. Berkey June 26 as Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s (NNSY) 103rd Commander.  In the past three years of Berkey’s command, the shipyard has prepared the carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) for work in Japan, completed Los Angeles-class submarine work, transitioned to mission funding, and participated in the Navy’s largest consolidation of Intermediate and Depot-level ship repair work.

The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) formally established the Surface Ship Life Cycle Management (SSLCM) Activity on May 8, 2009, in a ceremony at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in Portsmouth, Va. The new activity, a NAVSEA program office, will be aligned under the Deputy Commander for Surface Warfare (SEA 21). The SSLCM Activity will maintain, monitor and refine Class Maintenance Plans for all non-nuclear surface ships to ensure material readiness for the projected service life, develop life-cycle strategies to address system upgrades, and fully implement the Integrated Class Maintenance Plan into each surface ship's maintenance schedule and availability planning process.

The U.S. Navy began installing stern flaps in April on amphibious ships in an effort make ships more fuel efficient and save up to $450,000 in fuel costs per ship annually. USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41), the first dock landing ship to receive stern flaps, began the installation process mid-April during a scheduled maintenance availability in Norfolk, Va. The ship is expected to head back to sea in late November. "A stern flap, located on the aft end of a ship, makes the ship more hydrodynamic…

The fleet ballistic missile submarine USS Alaska (SSBN 732) finished its 27.5 month availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) on schedule and under cost March 8, marking the first East Coast overhaul of a SSBN. "We gained technical knowledge from having worked two guided-missile submarine conversions here at Norfolk and from knowledge sharing with Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on West Coast engineering refueling overhauls and we applied that knowledge to our advantage," said Pete Marfio, project superintendent. Since March 30, 2006, NNSY has been part of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Administration's Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) and earned "star site" status.

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) was presented the Navy’s Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) on Friday, Nov. 7, by Vice Adm. Kevin McCoy, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), for superior performance providing shipboard damage recovery to USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington was damaged from a May 22 fire in an unmanned Auxiliary Boiler Exhaust and Supply space, resulting in extensive damage to the U.S. Navy’s first forward-deployed nuclear powered carrier. NAVSEA’s PSNS & IMF was assigned as Lead Maintenance Authority (LMA) with responsibility of coordinating all maintenance activities assigned to the recovery effort — including ship’s force…

Following a back-to-basics approach in performing ship repairs, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) returned another amphibious-class ship to the fleet within budget and ahead of schedule, as the result of a public-private ship repair partnership in the Hampton Roads area. The shipyard completed a planned maintenance availability (PMA) for the Wasp-class, amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) ten days ahead of schedule and within fixed price budget, according to Project Superintendent Bobby Watkins. "Our back-to-basics approach paid great dividends in making this PMA an overwhelming success," Watkins said. The availability demonstrated the cooperation among Navy organizations, including Naval Surface Forces, U.S.

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Jeremy L. The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) moved out of dry dock to her new berth at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Feb. 7 as part of her depot planned maintenance availability (DPMA). The movement is part of the DPMA plan, which is to refurbish spaces and install new components and systems aboard the ship. "It was a race to the finish," said the ship's Repair Officer, Lt. Cmdr. David Wuestewald. Bataan has been at NNSY since September, and contractors and Bataan's crew have been working on various modifications and habitability projects, such as the MV-22 Osprey modification in the hangar bay, and installation of a compensating fuel system.

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) repair work will enable USS George Washington (CVN 73) to assume its role in Yokosuka, Japan, as our nation's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier in September. Working as "One Shipyard," skilled personnel from two NAVSEA field activities -- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) and Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) provided most of the craftsmen and skills required to complete the effort on Aug. 21, after only 91 days of repair work. The efforts of "One Shipyard" enabled a six-week reduction of USS George Washington's repair schedule from initial forecasts. "NAVSEA's One Shipyard concept provides the fleet customer with a more capable and more flexible maintenance resource," said Capt.

USS Wasp (LHD 1), in Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) for an eight-month docking phased maintenance availability (DPMA), undocked Sept. 18, one day ahead of schedule. "Wasp has met or exceeded all key events in this availability, and the early undocking sets the stage for future success," said Charlie Caudle, NNSY project superintendent. "[The undocking was] a very long and tedious process that went smooth as silk, which is exactly as it should be," said Capt. Dan Fillion, Wasp commanding officer. In addition to Caudle, the Wasp team is headed by deputy project superintendents Bryan Holberton and Lt. Cmdr. Robin Ball. The fiscal year 2008 DPMA has more than 124…

Amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) transits the Elizabeth River on her way to the Norfolk Naval Ship Yard, for a nine-month dry-dock phased maintenance availability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Pedro A. The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) arrived at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in Portsmouth to begin a scheduled eight-month dry-docked phased maintenance availability (DPMA) Sept. Under the early morning sun, the 45,000-ton warship was guided or “deadsticked,” by the power of tugboats from her homeport of Naval Station Norfolk up the Elizabeth River to the NNSY, where she will remain until May 2008. The 844-ft. Wasp-class ship will use dry dock No.