DianaEMT
02-20-2008, 06:54 AM
Bataan Leaves Dry Dock, Moors Pierside
Story Number: NNS080215-26
Release Date: 2/15/2008 6:40:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Jeremy L.
Grisham, USS Bataan Public Affairs
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- 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. "The last fuel tank closure was being
completed the afternoon prior to the dock's flooding."
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.
"We are done with most of the modifications aboard the ship," said
Wuestewald. "Now the main focus will be touch-up work around the
ship."
Moving the ship out of the dry dock facility to the pier was a major
evolution for the ship's crew and Norfolk Naval Shipyard personnel,
taking more than eight hours.
"It was exciting getting the CIC [Combat Information Center] manned
and ready for the evolution," said Senior Chief Operations
Specialist (SW/AW) William J. Phillips. "Having water under the keel
again means that at-sea operations are right around the corner."
The crew aboard the ship had various responsibilities during the
move, including standing watches, inspecting for watertight
integrity around the ship's hull and line handling. Meanwhile,
shipyard personnel were responsible for the controlled flooding of
the dock, moving the dry dock's caisson and orchestrating the ship's
movement.
"This was a major milestone in the DPMA," added Wuestewald. "Now we
look forward to the production completion date, crew move-aboard and
light-off assessment."
Bataan is more than halfway through her eight-month DPMA period.
Bataan is the fifth ship of the Navy's Wasp-class ships. She was
commissioned Sept. 20, 1997, and is the second U.S. Navy warship to
bear the name.
For more information about Bataan, visit the ship's Web site at
www.bataan.navy. mil .
For more news from USS Bataan, visit www.navy.mil/ local/lhd5/ .
Story Number: NNS080215-26
Release Date: 2/15/2008 6:40:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Jeremy L.
Grisham, USS Bataan Public Affairs
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- 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. "The last fuel tank closure was being
completed the afternoon prior to the dock's flooding."
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.
"We are done with most of the modifications aboard the ship," said
Wuestewald. "Now the main focus will be touch-up work around the
ship."
Moving the ship out of the dry dock facility to the pier was a major
evolution for the ship's crew and Norfolk Naval Shipyard personnel,
taking more than eight hours.
"It was exciting getting the CIC [Combat Information Center] manned
and ready for the evolution," said Senior Chief Operations
Specialist (SW/AW) William J. Phillips. "Having water under the keel
again means that at-sea operations are right around the corner."
The crew aboard the ship had various responsibilities during the
move, including standing watches, inspecting for watertight
integrity around the ship's hull and line handling. Meanwhile,
shipyard personnel were responsible for the controlled flooding of
the dock, moving the dry dock's caisson and orchestrating the ship's
movement.
"This was a major milestone in the DPMA," added Wuestewald. "Now we
look forward to the production completion date, crew move-aboard and
light-off assessment."
Bataan is more than halfway through her eight-month DPMA period.
Bataan is the fifth ship of the Navy's Wasp-class ships. She was
commissioned Sept. 20, 1997, and is the second U.S. Navy warship to
bear the name.
For more information about Bataan, visit the ship's Web site at
www.bataan.navy. mil .
For more news from USS Bataan, visit www.navy.mil/ local/lhd5/ .