Three U.S. Navy Seabee Mobile Utilities Support Equipment (MUSE) technicians arrived in Virginia April 29 to assist the final dry-docking for the USS Enterprise (CVN 65).
The technicians will utilize three recently completed 2500kVA substations to aid the shipyard in this process for the Navy’s oldest and largest nuclear powered aircraft carrier.
After more than fifty years of service, the Enterprise will undergo her final defueling availability in June 2013 at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), Newport News, Va.
“We are humbled to support the Enterprise final dry-docking,” said Naval Facilities Engineering Command EXWC Commanding Officer Capt. Brant D. Pickrell. “EXWC MUSE transformers will provide the ship with 450 VAC (volts, alternating current) shore power as the shipyard is wired to use only 4160 VAC supply.”
These substations will support pier side berthing of Enterprise’s supporting fleet operations and provide cold iron support. The technicians began substation installation on April 29th, with an expected completion date of May 3rd.
EXWC’s MUSE is a small unit based out of Port Hueneme, Calif. All MUSE technicians are selected from Seabee rates to attend the Army Prime Power School located at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. The year-long school is dedicated to teaching power production and transformation. The Mobile Utilities Support Equipment serves a number of supported commanders throughout the Navy and Department of Defense.
The equipment specializes in filling short term utility shortfalls, whether they are production (Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Guantanamo Bay, etc.) or transformation.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, May 1, 2013