NAVSEA Achieves Surface Ship Maintenance Process Milestone

From Surface Maintenance Engineering Planning Program

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) completed a 20-week selected restricted availability Jan. 27, becoming the first surface ship to complete a shipyard availability using a new maintenance process.

The process, known as the Baseline Availability Work Package (BAWP)/Availability Work Package (AWP), is designed to ensure each ship receives all required maintenance at the correct point in its life cycle to improve operational availability and reduced maintenance costs over the life of the ship.

The BAWP identifies and mandates all required lifecycle assessments and maintenance for each ship. The BAWP is then used to create a work package, the AWP, for each specific availability.

As part of NAVSEA's effort to sustain the current surface fleet, the Surface Maintenance Engineering Planning Program (SURFMEPP), is phasing in the BAWP/AWP process throughout the entire surface force to support meeting each surface ship's expected service life.

"I'm very pleased to report this successful milestone, a key step in the maturation of the end-to-end process," said SURFMEPP Commanding Officer Capt. Michael L. Malone. "This new process ensures each ship receives the critical maintenance it needs and steers the fleet toward the most effective use of its maintenance dollars."

Implementation of the BAWP/AWP process in planning availabilities is a critical new component of the fleet maintenance program, and is essential to ensuring each surface ship reaches its expected service life. As of February 2012, 65 ships are utilizing the new process, with an eventual goal of 150 ships by fiscal year 2014.

SURFMEPP, a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command, is responsible for managing the long-term maintenance requirements for ships in the surface fleet.