Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a nearly $8.8 million contract Sept. 19 to Cape Environmental Management, Inc. of Norcross, Georgia for construction of the hydrant fuel system at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina.

"This project brings much needed upgrades to our installation's existing fueling operations," said Major Abbillyn Johnson, Joint Base Charleston's 628th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander. "There is a need to construct a modern hydrant fuel system to support our mission requirements. Faster refueling of aircraft by a hydrant fuel system is needed to quickly move cargo forward to support operations and mission requirements."

Currently, large jets are refueled with smaller trucks that are required to drive from the fuel tank, unload fuel to the jet, drive back to have the truck refueled and then head back to the jet to be fueled. This process is timely and inefficient.

The project provides for the construction of an extension of the existing hydrant fueling system to the new cargo pads at Joint Base Charleston. The new construction will add two new hydrant pits, provide for the placement of interior and exterior coated carbon steel pipe and concrete pavement. The impeller size on five pumps will be increased and 35 existing valve pits will receive enhancements to their differential pilots and associated control valves.

The new hydra system will save time and money with critical refueling operations, providing fuel faster (right at the ramp) and will be more economical.

Work will be performed in Charleston, South Carolina and is expected to be complete by April 2019.

Joint Base Charleston is a located partly in the city of North Charleston, South Carolina and partly in the city of Goose Creek, South Carolina. The Charleston Team's mission is to provide globally expeditionary ready forces to combatant commanders. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the USAF 628th Air Base Wing and is an amalgamation of Charleston Air Force Base and Naval Support Activity Charleston, which were merged October 1, 2010. Joint Base Charleston encompasses over 20,877 acres and supports 67 military commands and federal agencies and provides service to over 79,000 Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, DOD civilians, dependents, and retirees.



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