Truman Installs Port Anchor Chain

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Thomas Miller, USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs

Portsmouth, Va (NNS) -- The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) installed its port anchor chain Dec. 16, marking completion of another goal in Truman's docking planned incremental availability (DPIA).

More than 30 Sailors and 10 shipyard workers assisted in lifting the 249,000-pound anchor chain 80 feet from the dry dock into the ship's forecastle. Truman expects installation of both anchor chains and anchors to be complete by the end of January.

The anchor chains and anchors were removed in April for sandblasting and painting.

"Having the anchors back on the ship is important because without them, we would not be able to go underway safely," said Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class (SW) Shawn Pankratz, assigned to Truman's deck department.

Prior to the evolution, the deck department and rehabilitation teams were working in the forecastle, sand blasting and painting the hawse pipe, the hole for the anchor chain on the bow of the ship.

"We had to make sure that the hawse pipe was being rehabbed properly, so we stayed in constant communication with rehabilitation teams to make sure we were on schedule," said Pankratz.

When anchor chain and anchor rehabilitation was complete, the anchors were transported to Truman. Sailors attached a line to the anchor chain and pulled it up using the ship's port side capstan.

When the bitter end of the chain, or the attaching link, reached the forecastle, Sailors wrapped it around the wildcat and guided it into the chain locker. There, the chain was attached to the bulkhead.

"By sandblasting and painting the chains, we can clearly see the markers on it, which is key to dropping the anchor underway," said Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class (SW) Mason Ellison, assigned to Truman's deck department. "It also ensured that the detachable links are working properly, making it easier to conduct maintenance."

Truman is undergoing a docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) to conduct maintenance and refurbish shipboard systems.

Truman is expected to return to the fleet in the summer of 2012.