SURFLANT N44 Hosts Full Power Training Symposium
19 May 2021
NAVAL STATION NORFOLK -- In order to educate shipboard engineering teams about best practices during full power evolutions, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, (SURFLANT) hosted a Waterfront Symposium on the topic May 17-18, aboard Naval Station Norfolk.
More than 110 chief engineers, top snipes, and main propulsion assistants attended the event, representing 25 commands. Participants learned about full power requirements, planning for the demonstrations, and highlighting common problems as they conduct these demonstrations.
“We have seen that full power demonstration scores during inspections drive the overall inspection scores,” said Lt. Cmdr. Trey Dittberner, symposium coordinator. “That in particular has been trending down in recent years. By bringing the engineering support from NAVSEA into the discussion we can work to find the root cause for the lower scores and turn the tide.”
Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Marine Engineering Lead, Peter McCauley, highlighted the event and presented information on the future FFG-62 Class ship’s engineering plant.
“In the end we want to have our ships be successful any time they execute a full power demonstration both for assessments and for normal operational requirements,” said Dittberner.
The event is the first “targeted” towards full power demonstrations, according to Dittberner. However, the SURFLANT N44 Readiness and Assessments team hosted multiple training symposiums in 2020 and expect to continue that into 2021 and beyond.
Capt. David Fowler, SURFLANT’s assistant chief of staff for readiness and assessments, stressed the important training provided by these symposiums.
“This symposium is not just about enabling ships to achieve full power,” said Fowler. “It is about ensuring that we as a fleet can meet our mission requirements now and in the future. The N44 team is here to make sure our Sailors and ships are ready for the high-end fight.”
SURFLANT mans, trains and equips assigned surface forces and shore activities, ensuring a capable force for conducting prompt and sustained operations in support of United States national interests. The SURFLANT force is composed of 77 ships, 14 pre-commissioning units, and 33 shore commands.
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