U.S. 7th Fleet flag ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) successfully completed sea trials March 4, after undergoing a six-month scheduled maintenance availability period.
Sea trials allows the crew to verify and ensure the operational readiness of the ship after undergoing repairs and part installations during shipyard periods.
Main Propulsion Assistant Lt. Seth Hall said:
Sea trials provide us an opportunity to discover and fix any issues prior to resuming our patrols. This SRA, the ship underwent some major alterations and we have to ensure everything works as designed.
Naval Warfare Center installed a variable speed drive control lube oil system that uses new technology, allowing it to operate with less electricity than the previous models.
While at sea, Blue Ridge Sailors also tested a number of other shipboard systems including communication circuits, the electrical plant, and flexing the boiler plants. They also brought the ship to full power, installed a new main reduction gear and allotted time to conduct a counter measure wash-down, ensuring all systems onboard are performing correctly.
Blue Ridge has been forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan for 35 years. As the flagship for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, Vice Adm. Robert L. Thomas, Blue Ridge is vital in maintaining partnerships in the 7th Fleet area of operations.
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Image: US Navy