Nimitz leaves for maintenance, may not return

The San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | December 6, 2010 | Jeanette Steele

[george76]

No. 68 has left the bay.

The Navy aircraft carrier Nimitz, which bears the familiar number 68 on its tower, departed San Diego Monday morning, bound for a year of maintenance work in Washington state. Its 2,800-sailor crew called San Diego home for almost a decade.

The $4 billion flat-top leaves a question mark in its place at Coronado’s North Island Naval Air Station.

The Navy has not revealed whether the Nimitz will return to San Diego in a year – restoring the city to its status as a three-carrier port – or stay in the Puget Sound region.

The Nimitz, the second-oldest of the Navy’s 11 carriers and the first of its class, will be getting the equivalent of a tuneup.

Built in 1975, the Nimitz is more than halfway through its 50-year life expectancy.

At Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, the ship will receive major upgrades to its potable water circuit, navigation system, electrical-load centers and numerous other components, said spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Steve Ruh.

[george76]

[sionnsar]

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[Red_Devil 232]

[ken5050]

FYI

[sionnsar]

Welcome to Washington!

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[ken5050]

Two questions:

I thought that CVNs get refueled about half-way throught their life cycle..at about 25 years. Has Nimitz already undergone this, if so..why wasn't this work done at the same time? If not, why not do it all at the same time now?

[tanknetter]

I thought that CVNs get refueled about half-way throught their life cycle..at about 25 years. Has Nimitz already undergone this, if so..why wasn't this work done at the same time? If not, why not do it all at the same time now?

Yup, Nimitz's RCOH wrapped up in 2000. She was in the process of undergoing final post-overhaul fit-out when 9-11 happened, and she put to sea as-is and took aboard a couple F-18 squadrons. As a friend of mine told me it was surreal that they were loading ordinance at the same time they were bolting down the chairs in the squadron ready rooms.

This is not a RCOH, but one of the more complex of the interim overhauls (a Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability) that all US CVNs undergo on a pretty strict schedule. this gives a quick look at the overhaul schedule: "During an American Nimitz Class carrier’s 50 year life span, it has 4 Drydocking Planned Incremental Availabilities and 12 Planned incremental availabilities. It has only one Refueling and Complex OverHaul, however, which is the most significant overhaul the ship receives during its 50-year life span."

[george76]

In May 1998, the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) entered Newport News Shipbuilding to begin its midlife refueling/complex overhaul (RCOH).

In the RCOH, the nuclear reactor was refueled

[ken5050]

Thanks..BTW..are those cars on deck? What’s the story with that?

[jazusamo]

We welcome her up here. :-) Thanks for the ping!

[BreitbartSentMe]

Ohhh, Ohhh, I know this one! When the carrier relocates up to Washington for drydock, the sometimes have the ship’s company’s family relocate along with them. Back in the 80’s my DH was attached to Constellation and our entire family rode the ship from San Diego to Bremerton with the cars lashed down on the deck. The wives clubs had arranged daycare events for the kids, lots of activities to take up the days. It was quite an adventure, and my kids still remember it, even though they were quite young at the time.

[Enterprise]

What a great photo!

[magslinger]

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[ken5050]

Thanks..very cool...families/kids must have a blast..and you have to wash all the cars wgen ashore..to get the salt water off..

[BreitbartSentMe]

Well it was very cool, until we hit a HUGE storm off the coast with close to hurricane level winds. Half the ships sailors were seasick. The storm also had some unfortunate consequences for the convertible that was lashed near the front of the ship. But, all in all, it was a GREAT time.

[A.A. Cunningham]

101202-N-1638S-062 SAN DIEGO (Dec. 2, 2010) The privately owned vehicles of Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) are parked aboard Nimitz in preparation for the ship's homeport change from Naval Base Coronado to Naval Base Kitsap at Bremerton, Wash. The ship is onloading more than 400 vehicles for the transit to Washington as part of an Opportune Lift program to assist Sailors and their families with the move. Nimitz is scheduled to conduct a docking planned incremental availability upon arriving in Washington. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Thomas G. Siniff/Released)

101201-N-2811A-108 SAN DIEGO (Dec. 1, 2010) The privately owned vehicles (POV) of Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) are parked aboard Nimitz in preparation for the ship's port change from Naval Base Coronado to Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Wash. Nimitz is loading more than 400 POVs for the transit to Washington as part of an Opportune Lift (OPLIFT) program to assist Sailors and their families with the move. Nimitz is scheduled to conduct a docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) upon arrival in Washington. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Casey J. Amdahl/Released)

[A.A. Cunningham]

Nimitz Departs San Diego for Year-Long Maintenance Period

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class J.D. Levite, USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Nimitz (CVN 68) departed San Diego Dec. 6 to conduct an administrative homeport change from Naval Base Coronado to Naval Base Kitsap at Bremerton, Wash.

Nimitz is making the homeport change to conduct a year-long docking-planned incremental availability (DPIA) at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) at Bremerton.

"During the maintenance period, Nimitz will receive major upgrades to its potable water system, combat and self defense systems, navigational systems, electrical load centers and numerous other components," said Lt. Cmdr. Charles Jones, ship's maintenance manager for Nimitz.

Nimitz has called the San Diego area home since 2001 when the ship shifted homeports from Newport News, Va., after completing a three-year complex refueling overhaul.

"I would be remiss if I didn't take the opportunity to say thank you to all the folks in San Diego who took care of our Sailors, and not only our Sailors, but their families as well while we deployed," said Capt. Paul Monger, Nimitz' commanding officer.

"I'm sad but I'm happy," said Lila Vasquez, mother of Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 3rd Class Lourdes Torres, who is making the move up to Washington. "We're used to having her close by, but we know it is important for the ship that she goes."

Since 2001, Nimitz has deployed five times as part of Carrier Strike Group 11, including its most recent deployment from July 2009 to March 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet.

"USS Nimitz has called San Diego her home for almost a decade, and we are grateful to the entire community for the support they have shown us," said Monger.

Nimitz' DPIA is scheduled from Jan. 11, 2011, until Dec. 16, 2011.

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard is the only government dry dock capable of accommodating a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier on the West Coast. The Navy expects to accomplish approximately 450,000 man days of work during the DPIA. Much of the work will be conducted by government workers at PSNS, but a substantial amount, around 72,000 man days, is expected to be accomplished in the private sector, with a significant effort being accomplished by the Nimitz crew.

[Scutter]

I have never been to the shipyard in Bremerton. Is is possible for civilians to see the ship there - I don’t mean go onboard, I just mean get close enough to see it?

[mad_as_he$$]

Love that last picture. Took a bunch of people that worked for me to tour the Nimitz at ANAS, it was about 1992 or so. Since I was first on board I got to see every ones face when they came into the hanger deck. The shock and awe on the size of the hanger was amazing.