US aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower starts six-month overhaul

The US Navy’s second Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) began its six-month planned incremental availability (PIA) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in Portsmouth, Virginia, September 17.

This restoration will be led by 12 work production teams comprised of Ike crew members who will be working in tandem with personnel from NNSY and outside contractors. The goal is to improve living standards, increase mission readiness and ensure the 50-year projected service life of the Ike.

“PIA gives us the opportunity to complete major ship alterations and improvements, as well as improve habitability for the crew, that cannot be normally completed in our short pierside availabilities at Norfolk,” said Lt. Cmdr. Julian Wilson, Ike’s ship maintenance manager.

“We currently have about 350 personnel assigned to ship’s force work teams in order to improve various items throughout the ship,” said Wilson. “These items include, but are not limited to, decking systems, berthing area replacements, lagging, doors, paint, cableway improvement, fuels, valve barge, ventilation, tanks, electrical matting and light industrial facility (LIFAC). ”

The PIA period has taken a large amount of planning and the workload will take teamwork on multiple levels. PIA is expected to consist of nearly 419 man-days worth of work, equivalent to 3,355,352 contractor and ship’s force man-hours.

Ike is scheduled to complete its availability at NNSY in spring 2018.