Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) conducted its first internal phone call using the Integrated Voice Network (IVN) since Lincoln’s Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) Nov. 20.
Capt. Ronald Ravelo, commanding officer, Abraham Lincoln, received the call from Lincoln’s RCOH Program Manager Bruce Easterson from a separate location inside the ship.
“This is one small step for the project and one large step for the project-kind,” Ravelo said, adding that it was wonderful to enter into a compartment and immediately notice the significant changes that have been accomplished.
The space containing one of three nodes to operate the full system began its reconstruction back in 2012 when Lincoln first started the RCOH process. In order to install the IVN system, Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) workers had to remove the legacy system and replace it with the latest technology.
“It is nice to have the IVN system operational,” said Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Paul Johnson who arrived aboard Abraham Lincoln in August 2012 and witnessed the transformation of the J-Dial system to the new IVN system as it went through the process of construction and light-off.
According to Easterson, having a third of the IVN system operational is another in the string of milestones Lincoln has successfully achieved since the RCOH execution phase started back in March 2013.
“This is a significant milestone because it’s the first step towards bringing this major communication system to operational status,” Easterson said. “We’re very proud of the Navy, Newport News Shipbuilding and vendor cooperation that made this possible.”
Along with the installation of the IVN system, the NNS team working on the project also took steps to make the space containing this equipment less constricted and easier to work in during construction. The NNS team finished the space in record time, completing the project four months ahead of schedule.
“When Lincoln pulled into Newport News, the space had already been gutted during the Smart Start phase,” said Floyd Shelton, Lincoln’s RCOH construction manager. “We were ready to install the IVN system, the cables, put in new foundations and update the power systems at arrival at NNS.”
Chief Interior Communications Cindy Lambert reflected on the teamwork involved to complete her space transformation. “I am very proud of the hard work done by Newport News Shipbuilding.”
Lincoln is currently undergoing RCOH at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries.
[mappress mapid=”14550″] Press Release; Image: Wikimedia