Making It Happen: USS George Washington (CVN 73)

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) has spent three years developing the plan for the refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of USS George Washington (CVN 73), a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. For the design and construction of this two-year project, a $2.8 billion-dollar contract was granted to the Newport News Shipbuilding division.

This project includes modernization work to more than 2,300 compartments, 600 tanks, and hundreds of systems. The specifics contain: the refueling of the ship’s reactors, upgrades to the flight deck, catapults, combat systems, and the island.

Before implementation, Sunbelt Rentals worked with HII to develop the required environmental specifications. The Sunbelt Rentals team provided the capital commitment upfront to ensure the project received the best equipment suitable for the job. Our team then designed and engineered the specified equipment to meet the needs of Huntington Ingalls Industries’ specifications. Sunbelt Rentals won the bid for this project.

The preliminary stages of the scope of work for this project included writing and developing specifications for ventilation, temperature, and relative humidity (RH) levels. Maintaining the proper environment in the space is critical to keeping the project on time and within budget. Our Sunbelt Rentals team worked together to ensure the system delivered the proper air volume (air exchanges), while holding to tight specifications guaranteeing that the air was at the correct relative humidity and temperature.

Following the specifications for the ventilation and environmental temperature and relative humidity (RH), our team designed and manufactured customized rental equipment. To do this, the Sunbelt Rentals General Tool and Industrial Services’ team collaborated with other partners of Huntington Ingalls Industries. Every supplier involved in this project had one overarching goal – to successfully meet the requests of HII. This required the communication, coordination, and collaboration of several companies to fulfill the needs of our mutual client.

The solution delivered 12.6 million cubic feet per hour of air throughout the ship. This was accomplished by utilizing:

• 8 - Sunbelt Air Monitoring Systems (SAMS) units
• 14 - 200 Ton Chillers
• 14 - Custom Built Desiccant Units
• 2 - 60K- CFM Dust Collectors 

The introduction of the Sunbelt Air Monitoring Systems (SAMS) units created a strong advantage for our team. Prior to SAM’s, Huntington Ingalls Industries did not have a wireless system. Previous systems were unreliable and limited to what information they could provide.  HII needed a system to monitor the equipment’s performance for measuring temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, static pressure, and volume. The SAMS units provided this along with virtually 100% reliability.

Throughout the timeline of our work on USS George Washington (CVN 73), Sunbelt Rentals truly evolved as a resource to our customer. We quickly became an organically growing shipyard solution provider, and developed relationships with other suppliers to make this a complete team for Huntington Ingalls Industries.

In an aircraft carrier’s 50-year service life, the RCOH represents 35 percent of all maintenance and modernization. Because of the expertise, dedication, and accessibility of the Sunbelt Rentals team, the USS George Washington (CVN 73) will successfully increase efficiency and contribute to the service of the Navy.

The project is anticipated to be completed in August 2021 and will be one of the most modern and technologically advanced Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the Huntington Ingalls Industries’ fleet. The accomplishment of these customizations and additions will assist in the continuance of its purpose: to be a vital part of the nation’s defense.