USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier ready for 10-month overhaul

U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) on August 25 for its 10-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA), which will officially begin September 27.

“Because Truman’s last availability at NNSY was condensed, significant maintenance was deferred, making this a large and complex availability,” said Deputy Project Superintendent Bobby Leigh.

Truman’s PIA will total roughly 499,773 man-days, 51 percent of which will be completed by contractors, Alteration Installation Teams, and ship’s force.

The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding a $52 million contract for nuclear propulsion and complex modernization work on the aircraft carrier.

“It’s a complex availability with a heavy contracting package,” said Truman Project Superintendent Mike Jennings. “We’re partnering with Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) in a way we’ve never done before.”

In addition to NNSY’s and HII’s work, critical work during the availability includes a contractor-performed upgrade to the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services, the Navy’s next generation tactical afloat network, which enhances operational effectiveness and provides better quality of life for deployed sailors.

Jennings said the ship’s crew is very experienced, and much of the NNSY 2015 Truman team is returning to the project.

“The project team’s motto is ‘One Team,’” Jennings said. “It’s back to the basics. We are accountable as a team and motivated to get the ship out on time.”