Crew welfare in drydock and during extended maintenance periods

The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington rejoined the U.S. Navy last month following an extended six-year overhaul. Her 6 year extended absence from active service, 2 years longer than scheduled, was itself controversial. However, the death of 9 crew members during that time, several on account of suicides including 3 in a tragic single week, prompted calls for a significant improvement in onboard conditions during maintenance periods.

Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia performed the vessel’s mid-life upgrades including the refueling of the two nuclear reactors and upgrades to propulsion equipment, infrastructure, and combat systems. In addition to the poor condition of the vessel on arrival at the yard, the Navy has referenced COVID-19 pandemic associated delays, supplier interruptions, and competing requirements for resources as all contributing to contract delays. The Navy has also acknowledged that conditions aboard the vessel had been difficult during the long refit.

Mariners across the globe face uncertain conditions when in a shipyard for repairs and especially during drydocking when basic onboard services are often inaccessible. We can all share our experiences and not everyone deals well with the loss of privacy (and security) when contractors are swarming the vessel, often with no consideration for the intrusion of personal space. In addition, there is often a loss of hygiene with restricted access to bathrooms and showers further aggravated by limited onboard catering, no fitness facilities and for sure, no air conditioning or internet availability. In the case of the USS George Washington, some of the crew living away from the ship, were reported to have been assigned parking far from the vessel resulting in an impractically long daily a commute.

The fire onboard the USS Bonhomme Richard in San Diego in 2020 also highlighted a multitude of shortcomings in onboard conditions during an extended maintenance period but also seriously inadequate training and preparedness to fight a fire. Initially commissioned in 1998, it was ultimately concluded that the fire, which continued for five days before being brough under control, was an incident of arson originating a disgruntled crew member. A further criticism was allegedly poor communication between the navy and shoreside fire fighting teams and the lack of a dedicated fire boat to serve one of the world’s largest naval bases. Senior Navy heads rolled but that is probably little compensation for the constructive total loss of a major amphibious assault ship.

 

USS George Washington returns to service for sea trials – May 2023

 

The Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 spells out seafarer rights on merchant ships and captures the standards of existing international maritime labour Conventions and Recommendations. The Convention applies to all ships entering the harbours of signatory port states and flag states. To date, 101 countries has ratified the convention, however the United States is not one of them.

USS George Washington is scheduled to return to U.S. 7th Fleet in based in Yokosuka, Japan, in 2024. She will replace USS Ronald Reagan, which initially relieved the USS George Washington in 2015.

 

Featured Image: USS Bonhomme Richard on fire in San Diego