SURFMEPP Delivers 100TH Baseline Availability Work Package

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- The Surface Maintenance Engineering Planning Program (SURFMEPP) completed its 100th Baseline Availability Work Package (BAWP), a major milestone in the Navy's continued effort to improve surface ship maintenance, 23 May.

As the 100th BAWP ship, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) will enter its next extended maintenance period with the benefit of a fully planned maintenance package that includes all known mandatory assessments and required life cycle repairs.

The BAWP represents the NAVSEA-mandated technical requirements to ensure a ship reaches its expected service life and meets its operational commitments. A BAWP is tailored specifically to each ship, based on the requirements outlined in the ship's class maintenance plan, and includes a list of work that must be accomplished during scheduled availabilities. SURFMEPP then tracks the execution of all BAWP-required maintenance actions.

"The 100th BAWP represents a significant milestone for the surface maintenance community," said Capt. Michael L. Malone, SURFMEPP's commanding officer. "The process efficiencies gained by generating the BAWP will help drive down surface ship maintenance costs, improve availability execution and prevent lost operational days from unplanned and growth work."

SURFMEPP's goal is to implement BAWPs for all surface ships by the end of 2014. For the LSD class in particular, eight of 12 ships have entered the BAWP process, with the remainder scheduled for completion by the end of December 2013. Prior to the BAWP process, surface ship repair decisions were often made without knowledge of the impacts to ship expected service life. Maintenance was often accomplished without the full scope of work identified, leading to cost and schedule growth.

By implementing processes such as the BAWP, SURFMEPP plays a key role in ensuring the Navy meets its surface ship readiness goals. Since its 2010 standup, SURFMEPP re-established the engineered requirements for surface ship maintenance planning. As a result, the Navy now has a better understanding of the impacts from deferred maintenance and is in better position to plan, track and execute required maintenance when it should be accomplished.

SURFMEPP, a Naval Sea Systems Command field activity, provides centralized surface ship life cycle maintenance and engineering planning. SURFMEPP is headquartered in Portsmouth, Va. with detachments in Norfolk, Va.; Mayport, Fla.; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Everett, Wash.; San Diego, Calif.; Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan. Detachments in Manama, Bahrain and Rota, Spain are anticipated in 2014.


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