5 l 28 l 2019
A weekly publication of Newport News Shipbuilding
Photo by Ashley Cowan
Shipbuilders Complete Crane Milestone Newport News Shipbuilding’s new 315-metric-ton Goliath gantry crane is a step closer to becoming operational, thanks to shipbuilders from the X36 Rigging Shop. Crews recently installed the crane’s wire rope on its four hoist blocks – three main blocks and an auxiliary hoist. Each main hoist holds just under 1 mile of wire rope. Two crews – one on the ground and another 275 feet in the air – worked in unison to accomplish the milestone.
“You have to be focused and committed to the process whenever you work a job like this. Many things can go wrong on a job of this size, so you cannot allow yourself to be distracted,” said X36 Apprentice Craft Instructor Jarrod Burke, who led the machinery space crew. “With a little luck and the grace of God, we were able to make it happen,” he said. X36 Foreman Raymond Faulk led the ground crew. The teams maintained constant communication during the CONTINUED ON PG 2
NNS Kicks Off Advance Construction for Columbia-Class Submarines Newport News Shipbuilding hosted a ceremonial first-cut-of-steel event Thursday, May 23, to mark the start of advance construction for the Columbia Class Submarine Program. With the press of a button, a plasma-burning machine cut the first steel plate that will be used to build Columbia (SSBN 826), the lead ballistic missile submarine. As NNS continues its digital transformation, the event also marked the first class of submarines that will be built using fully digital blueprints. CONTINUED ON PG 2 Newport News Shipbuilding officially began advance construction of the first Columbiaclass submarine on Thursday, May 23 – three weeks ahead of schedule. Photo by Matt Hildreth