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    Blue Ridge successfully wraps up MCI

    YOKOSUKA, JAPAN

    09.05.2015

    Courtesy Story

    USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19)

    By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Liz Dunagan

    YOKOSUKA, Japan – The U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) successfully completed its mid-cycle inspection (MCI) Sept. 5.

    Every space, system and piece of equipment onboard was checked for optimal operational capability by 10 inspectors from the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) and 49 from the Type Commander Material Inspection Team (TMIT). MCI is conducted every 30 months prior to the ship’s INSURV cycle.

    “We strictly inspected the material readiness of the ship to insure that it was capable of accomplishing the mission it was designed for and will continue to in the future,” said Cmdr. Aaron Washington, assistant chief of staff for Commander Naval Surface Forces.

    Blue Ridge Sailors prepared for this inspection for months, conducting mock inspections and cross-departmental Preventative Maintenance System (PMS) spot-checks, ensuring the crew understood what was expected of them.

    “MCI inspectors looked at what operational maintenance checks we do day-to-day,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Atwater, Blue Ridge’s assistant ship’s maintenance management officer. “They observed as we conducted checks during our anchor drop test and full-power runs with our boilers.”

    The inspectors also observed, the operations department conduct a detect to engage test; information system’s department high frequency transmitter observations; as well as the basic daily shipboard operations including the ship’s internet capabilities.

    The overall goal of MCI is to verify the material readiness of the ship and to provide the crew with a list of how they can expand the life-cycle of the ship further, said Capt. David Owen, chief of staff and a senior inspector of INSURV.

    “The underway day was the most important,” said Owen. “We observed the crew performing different evolutions and demonstrating their equipments’ operations, documenting any discrepancies we saw.”

    “The Sailors presenting the spaces did very well. They were professional, knowledgeable and honest. If they maintain that standard the next group of inspectors will be just as pleased as we were.”

    MCI is graded using 20 different functional areas, ranging from supply and aviation to engineering and damage control.

    Owen continued saying that INSURV assigns a numeric grade to each of those groups and it all adds up to the INSUV figure merit (IFOM). The score ranges from 0 to 100, with the average somewhere in the low 80s.

    “Overall Blue Ridge and her crew scored a satisfactory. We graded her against the other amphibious assault class ships and compared to the rest, she scored above average,” stated Owen.

    ” If Sailors put nose to grindstone, correcting the discrepancies and demonstrating the same amount of dedication they showed throughout this mid-cycle inspection, I expect to hear wonderful things about the outcome of their INSURV.”

    Blue Ridge has been forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, for nearly 36 years. As the flagship for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin, Blue Ridge is committed to strengthening and fostering relationships within the Indo-Asia Pacific region.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.05.2015
    Date Posted: 09.08.2015 03:05
    Story ID: 175402
    Location: YOKOSUKA, JP

    Web Views: 71
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN