"To be able to see it and get in there and work with it all is the best way to learn something, and that's what we are getting the opportunity to do." "There is no better training than hands on," said Brill. This maintenance allows them to learn even more. Sailors new to Deck's Sea and Anchor Detail receive training almost every week in order to ensure that they know the proper procedures to raise and lower the anchor safely. ![]() Boatswain's Mates are a very proud rate to begin with, but to be able to actually be the very first carrier to do this type of thing is a big deal to us. But I think that anxiety and worry will always be there."ĭespite the stress brought on by this new task to many of the Sailors involved, the chance to get to do something so important with very little help from outside workers was appreciated. The more you do it, the less stressed you get. "When you're doing it, you're stressing because you're scared to mess up and don't want anyone to get hurt," said Fondon. There was very minimal contractor involvement, which originally worried some of the Sailors in Deck Department, who have been talking about and planning the evolution well before coming to the yards. Once it goes back into the chain locker it just sits and allows rust to build up." "Whenever we anchor out at sea the anchor is sitting on the ocean floor getting dirty and soaking in salt water. "It's for the overall preservation of the anchor and chain, and to make sure it's not getting rusted up," said Brill. Once this is done, the Sailors can check to make sure they have not been worn down and there is not too much movement in between them. The detachable links must be taken apart, greased, reassembled and then sanded. Once the anchor chain is removed, the work to preserve it can be started. ![]() "We do one shot, then stop, tie it off, detach it, make sure it's secure, move the barge the other way, and lay down another shot." The tug boats were a necessity for positioning the barge," said Brill. "Each shot weighs 20,500 pounds, so there is absolutely no way to be able to man-handle it. "You can get a lot more injuries doing this than compared to when you're going around doing small maintenance."Īfter the anchor was removed it was time to slowly and monotonously lower the anchor chain, one shot at a time. "Working with the anchor is intense," said Seaman Jordan Fondon. The process of laying down the anchor happens very slowly and with many more precautions than what many Deck Sailors are used to. The anchor has to lay a certain direction so that there is no risk of it falling over. "We pay out the anchors down onto a barge that has two tug boats attached to either side to ensure it is in the right spot," said Brill. The Deck Department had the daunting task of removing the 60,000-pound anchors from both starboard and port sides of the ship in order to perform preventative maintenance and ensure the ship is ready to return to the fleet sometime next year. They would normally be in the foc'sle and down on the barge and they would be the ones doing all the sandblasting." "Usually this is a job for the contractors. "This is the first time something like this has been done," said Boatswain's Mate Second Class Jacob Brill, petty officer in charge in the ships foc'sle for the lowering of the anchor. Considering the average person weighs less than 200 pounds, it's safe to say the task of removing Nimitz' anchors and chain is no small feat. Twelve shots of chain collectively hold a 60,000-pound anchor. ![]() Fifty-seven links, each weighing 350-pounds, make up just one 90-foot shot of chain that weighs a total of 20,500 pounds. ![]() The Boatswain's Mates of USS Nimitz (CVN 68) are making history, as they become the first team of Sailors to remove the anchor and chain of an aircraft carrier rather than contracting the work out to civilians.
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