Norfolk Naval Shipyard Installs Truman's Main Mast

Aug 26, 2011 ASDNews Source : US Navy

Norfolk, Va. - Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) completed the installation of the USS Harry S. Truman's (CVN 75) main mast aboard Aug. 20, marking the latest milestone in the ship's 13-month drydock planned incremental availability.

The 112,000-pound mast - standing 10 feet taller and 23,000 pounds heavier than the mast removed June 18 - supports the modernization of the carrier's combat systems suite and radars for its new weapons systems.

The mast required more than two years and two shipyards to build. As part of Naval Sea Systems Command's "One Shipyard" concept, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility assisted with fabrication of the mast.

Despite the challenges associated with the mast's height and weight, it was raised in a single lift. The mast was installed by 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.

This marks NNSY's first mast installation in more than four years, the last being USS George Washington's mast replacement in January 2007.

In addition to the main mast replacement, the shipyard's 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.