The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) navigation department is undergoing a switch from paper charts to the Voyage Management System (VMS), a fully-electronic system of charts.

The majority of the fleet has switched to VMS, which offers instantaneous navigation information and a more reliable Global Positioning System (GPS).

"We are the carrier that is still charting on paper," said Quartermaster 2nd Class Jamar Code. "The only reason why we had not switched earlier is because when the ship went into Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH), it was not certified. In that five years when the ship was in the shipyards, every other carrier got certified to use VMS."

Abraham Lincoln was recently fitted with the new VMS system and is only used as a secondary means of navigation next to paper charts.

"We've only used it since last month," said Master Chief Quartermaster Lacie Hill. "It was installed during carrier incremental availability (CIA). We went to school and then we started using it the following underway."

The entire navigation department has been training for the Afloat Training Group (ATG) inspection that will qualify them to officially switch to VMS. Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Ringelstein, the assistant navigation officer, said the inspection is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year. Following the inspection, the ship will need official approval from type commander (TYCOM) before it can make the complete switch to VMS.

"We are ready for the inspection," said Ringelstein. "We have been certified for the equipment. Most of the quartermasters and navigation leadership have gone through a navigation operators course, and we have been practicing using it alongside our paper charts, so we are prepared to navigate by electronic charts as the primary source."

The navigation team will carry out normal navigation operations with VMS for the inspection. The hardware will also be checked to ensure it meets certain Navy standards.

"It's a process where ATG comes [aboard] and inspects us, so they see that we know how to operate," said Code. "Then we have a tailored navigation bill to say what we are going to do and what we are not going to do. After that, we are going to make sure all of our systems are certified, including our navigation lights and GPS, and make sure they are up to par."

VMS has numerous elements that benefit the way the ship navigates and how efficiently the quartermasters can do their job. The new system will be faster, safer and eliminate potential chart plotting errors.

"Right now, when we are in restricted waters, we are required to do three minute fixes," explained Code. "VMS plots every 30 seconds. So every 30 seconds we know where the ship is, so it's safer to navigate. It takes the human error out of the equation."

It may also alleviate some of the quartermasters' workload.

"I think it makes it easier for planning [and] updating, and it takes less man hours," said Hill.

While most of the Navy has already switched to VMS, Abraham Lincoln will be the first ship to qualify to use VMS 9.34, which is the most advanced version in the fleet.

"I am looking forward to being the first ship qualifying 9.34," said Code. "I think it's a major accomplishment, and it will carry on into the future. We're on the cutting edge of navigational technology."

Ringelstein said once the VMS process is completed, the ship will be able to receive a real-time mark of where it is in the world, which will highly benefit the ship's mission.

"I think we are going in the right direction," said Ringelstein. "Paper charts, without a doubt, provide reliable information and a solid track which we can travel on; but it's not immediate. That's what is nice about electronic charts. It provides instantaneous information for us and it's more reliable on GPS."

The shift from paper charts to VMS will provide Abraham Lincoln's navigation department with the most advanced charting system in the fleet, but the quartermasters aboard will be able to carry the skill of navigating with both for the rest of their careers.

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