Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and the naval enterprise have continuously encouraged the workforce to push the boundaries of how they do business, seeking out the most cutting-edge technologies and processes to revolutionize the way maintenance and repairs are done worldwide. At Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), one such innovative tool that’s been tested across the waterfront is laser ablation, an advanced technology that utilizes a high-powered laser beam to remove unwanted materials from surfaces. With opportunities during the latest availability for USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) at NNSY, America’s Shipyard rose up with assistance from NAVSEA and Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) to secure one of the most powerful handheld lasers to add as a new tool in the toolbelt for our mechanics — the first of the four public shipyards to be provided this equipment.
At the head of this effort was NAVSEA 04XT Technology Focus Team (TFT) Hub Channel for Corrosion Control and Repair, a collective group across the enterprise working together to bring life into those innovative ideas and filling the needs of the workforce. Within the ongoing partnership and sharing of information, the team focused in on the Adapt laser series — specifically the Adapt CL-1000 — a powerful laser ablation tool that is able to eliminate rust, hazardous coatings, and corrosions from metal components in rapid time without altering the surface material. On the projects, it is standard practice to sandblast or utilize needleguns to clean the surface metals on the job — which can be taxing on the worker due to the heavy vibrations in their hand and arm, as well as the loud noises produced by these tasks. With laser ablation, it would be less taxing on the individual, reducing noise, hand, and arm vibrations — as well as provide a cleaner and safer alternative in jobs that could utilize the laser instead.
“With the push from the NAVSEA 04XT TFT as well as the immense generosity and investment from MIB who were able to do the research with inputs from the four shipyards, we were the first of the four shipyards to officially receive the Adapt CL-1000 and put it to the test with the CVN 77,” said Code 900S/970 Safety Advocate Matthew Maccord. Initially utilizing a rented unit prior to the official unit making its home at NNSY, teams came together from the Preservation and Habitability Department (Code 970), Operations Department (Code 300), Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Office (Code 106), Production Process Improvements Department (Code 900P), Innovation and Technology Division (Code 100TO.3), and Code 900S to begin the initial testing and training of folks to be able to utilize this technology and bring laser ablation to the deckplate…