The efforts of the PM13 deck removal team aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) have saved nearly $6 million off the cost of the ship’s refueling complex overhaul (RCOH).
At a ceremony Aug. 6 to celebrate 100 percent completion of tile removal, Lincoln’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Karl O. Thomas,
The PM13 team consists of Sailors reassigned from departments throughout the ship who prepare the steel subfloors on the ship for re-tiling. Many of them had never used tools such as sledge hammers, pneumatic and electrical demolition hammers and deck crawlers needed to complete the arduous tasks.
The team started the project in Nov. 2012. Originally, PM13 only removed tile and furniture from the steel subfloors in preparation for the installation of new furniture and flooring. In April 2014 the PM13 team took on the additional task of removing studs and equipment foundations welded to the deck, all in preparation for new equipment and tile installation.
Lincoln Chief Engineer Cmdr. Vincent Janowiak estimates the Navy saved millions of tax payer dollars simply by having Sailors work in areas such as PM13.
Over the course of the project, PM13 Sailors met many milestones including accomplishing portions of the RCOH project 18 months ahead of schedule.
Despite working around a labyrinth of hoses, temporary wiring, replacement parts and material, one of the biggest challenges may have been accomplishing their milestones without disrupting other shipyard activities.
Lincoln is currently undergoing RCOH at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries.
Once RCOH is complete, Lincoln will be one of the most modern and technologically advanced Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the fleet and will continue to be a vital part of the nation’s defense.