Norfolk Shipyard removes USS Harry S. Truman's (CVN 75) main mast

June 24, 2011 Norfolk Naval Shipyard Public Affairs Office – defpro.com

NORFOLK, Va. | Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) marked a milestone in the 13-month drydocking planned incremental availability for USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), June 18, with the removal of the aircraft carrier's 89,000 pound main mast.

With removal of the old mast from the carrier, NNSY's Truman Project team is now focusing on fabrication of the replacement main mast which will be 10 feet higher and approximately 30,000 pounds heavier.

"This is a very important upgrade toward the refurbishment and modernization of the combat systems suite as well as the radars for our weapons systems," said Truman's Commanding Officer Capt. Joe Clarkson.

The mast was removed by the shipyard staff by renting a 450-ton Liebhern crane, similar to cranes used to build roller coasters. "The crane is so large it took 40 tractor trailers to ship its components to us," said Jim Simpson, NNSY lifting and handling quality assurance specialist for contractor cranes.

To maximize the return on investment, Simpson estimates the shipyard will be performing nearly 50 lifts while the crane is under rental this summer, including the placement of CVN 75's new mast in August.

Workers from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility - as part of Naval Sea Systems Command's "One Shipyard" concept that shares personnel and resources across the four naval shipyards - were brought in to assist in the fabrication of CVN 75's new main mast.

Truman Project Superintendent Matt Durkin said, "As big as this job is, these folks have been knocking the ball out of the park with staying on schedule."

In addition to the main mast replacement, the shipyard CVN 75 availability project team will be modernizing and improving the carrier's propulsion plant control.

NNSY, a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command, is the oldest and largest industrial facility belonging to the U.S. Navy, and specializes in repairing, overhauling and modernizing ships and submarines.