December 2008 | SUPPORTING NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD (NNSY) DRYDOCKINGS : 21 Drydockings In Fifteen Years

In the early 1990's the change in environmental regulations forced NNSY and other shipyards to change the way exterior preservation projects were performed. Normally the most extensive exterior preservation jobs took place when the vessels were in drydock. United Coating's ability to adapt to changing requirements has made us the preferred choice of NNSY.

United Coatings (UCC) accomplished the first major drydock preservation job at NNSY performed under the stricter regulations. In 1992 UCC abrasive blasted and recoated the exterior hull of the USS Nassau (LHA-4) from the keel to the flight deck. UCC engineered a containment system that allowed sections of the vessel to be contained for abrasive blasting and coating while other areas were able to undergo structural work and repairs by NNSY without interference. Negative ventilation was utilized to ensure visibility in these areas. Subsequent projects accomplished in this manner were the USS LaSalle (AGF-3), USS Spear (AS-36), USS Cable (AS-40), USS Land (AS-39) and USS Mt. Whitney (LCC-20).

In the late 1990's the US Navy urged the industry to investigate alternate surface preparation methods which aimed to eliminate the need to dispose of hundreds of tons of spent abrasive when accomplishing hull preservation. UCC's initial investment of $5,000,000.00 allowed us to procure and develop equipment that could remove coatings utilizing Ultra High Pressure (UHP) water. This allowed surface preparation to commence earlier in the availability since the heavy duty containment tarps were no longer required. Utilizing our robotic units permitted other trades to work along side UCC crews while surface preparation was being performed. The USS Nassau's (LHA-4) hull was preserved in this manner in 2001.

When the need arose in the early 2000's to reduce drydocking durations, UCC was able to design a more effective and innovative approach to surface preparation which utilized both UHP hydroblasting and abrasive blasting. While the flat hull areas could be prepared with robotic UHP units, the complex structural areas such as catwalks, undersides of aircraft elevators and stern gates could be prepared much faster and efficiently utilizing grit. UCC's containment system allowed the grit blasting to be segregated from the UHP hyroblasting while performing both simultaneously. This method has been successfully employed on the USS Wasp (LHD-1), USS Saipan (LHA-2), USS Washington (CVN-73), USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) and the USS Roosevelt (CVN-71). This new approach not only reduced the drydock durations, but also resulted in a cost savings of approximately $1.50/sq. ft. to the government.

UCC has proven to be the only contractor who can mobilize equipment and personnel to prepare an exterior hull with either water, grit or a combination of both.

• May 2005 | REHAB PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS OVER THE C&O CANAL, GEORGETOWN PARK - Read Article
• 2005 | LEAD ABATEMENT ABRASIVE BLASTING PROJECT, FORT MONROE HAMPTON, VIRGINIA - Read Article
• 2004 | PROJECT BLUE STRUCTURE ENCAPSULATION PROJECT, US POSTAL WAREHOUSE STERLING, VIRGINIA - Read Article
• 1999 | LEAD ABATEMENT UHP PROJECT, AIRCRAFT HANGAR # 431 ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FLORIDA - Read Article