May 10, 2012 Vol. 1 Issue 9

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4

Everyone produces waste. Whether you throw out a candy wrapper, finish that Diet Coke, or toss that paper you didn’t need, it all ends up somewhere. Aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), trash processing is a coordinated process that requires garbage separation and proper handling.

Divisions on board must separate their garbage into three categories: paper, plastic, and dunnage.

“Paper dissolves in water, dunnage sinks to the bottom, and plastic gets turned into ‘pucks’,” explained Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Joshua Hamilton, the work center supervisor and leading petty officer of Nimitz’ waste processing room. “Plastic is harmful to the environment because animals can eat it or get caught in it.”

Initially, when divisions bring their trash to hangar bay three, they must put each bag into a designated triwall. “During flight operations, we can’t dump,” said Hamilton. “When flight ops aren’t going on, people can just send their paper and dunnage down the chute.”

To process the vast amounts of

trash, the waste processing room has plenty of specialized equipment designed to efficiently dispose of the different kinds of waste.

“We have a large pulper, which takes paper and soft foods,” said Fireman Bruce Thompson, one of the daytime supervisors in the waste processing room. “There’s a receiving tray at the top that our guys have to sift through, to make sure no unauthorized items go into the pulper.”

After the paper and trash go in, the pulper mixes it with sea water and discharges the swill it creates overboard.

Plastic is processed in a

completely different fashion. “First we sift through the plastic and send it through the shredder,” said Hamilton. “After that, it gets sent to the CMU (compression melting unit) where it melts and compresses the plastic into discs called pucks.”

The CMUs on board heat the plastic between 300 and 400 degrees Farenheit to soften the plastic for compression and each puck takes about 20 to 30 minutes to make.

“One or two full bags of plastic can make one puck,” said Thompson. “This makes them much easier to store until we can offload them when we pull into port.”

Sailors work to properly dispose of wasteStory and photos by MC3 Ian Cotter

See TRASH page 3

Fireman Bruce Thompson loads paper into a pulper in the waste processing room aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

Chester’s Challenge

Page 2

Capt. Jeff Ruth, Commanding Officer of USS Nimitz, named Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Gilbert Martinez, Sailor of the Day, May 9 in the Pilot House. (Photo by MC3 (SW) Thomas G. Siniff)

USS Nimitz’ Sailor of the Day

Commanding OfficerCAPT Jeffrey S. Ruth

Executive OfficerCAPT Buzz Donnelly

Command Master ChiefCMDCM Teri McIntyrePublic Affairs OfficerLCDR Karin Burzynski

EditorMC3 Ashley Berumen

Lead DesignerMC3 (SW) Thomas Siniff

Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All. submissions are subject to review and screening. “Nimitz News” is an authorized publication for the members of the military services and their families. Its content does not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or the Marine Corps and does not imply endorsement thereby.

Read the rest on Nimitz blog

By Logistics Specialist 1st Class Sean Le

Page 3

One of the more elaborate pieces of equipment in the waste processing room is the incinerator, which is used to burn paper and plastic.

“For every three bags of paper we burn, we’re allowed to burn one bag of plastic,” said Thompson. “The plastic burns very hot, and there is a temperature limit to the incinerator.”

JP5 jet fuel is used to ignite the incinerator, which typically burns between 1,292 and 1,472 degrees Farenheit but can reach a maximum temperature limit of 2,048 degrees before the feeder assembly stops fueling the machine.

“When you dump trash into the

incinerator, it gets shredded and then moves to a conveyer,” said Thompson. “From there it moves to a rotary air lock before going into the burner. This prevents flames from getting to the conveyer and keeps the fire within the burner itself. Any extra waste from the incinerator is either offloaded or stored in a special container.”

Personnel in the waste processing room urge Sailors to properly process their trash before bringing it to them. Sailors who bring unprocessed trash are usually turned away and forced to sort it on their own.

“We spend more time sorting trash than processing it,” said Thompson. “If people just put the

right trash in the right bags, it would make our jobs faster and easier.”

Trash hours on board are from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the exception of certain medical and supply divisions.

TRASH: Proper disposal relies on dedicationContinued from page 1

Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Joshua Hamilton separates plastic waste from paper and dunnage in hangar bay three aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

200 Years Ago

Learn moreby visitinghttp://ourflagwasstillthere.org

May 8, 1812New York play debuts 'presidential' music"Hail to the Chief," the music now played upon the arrival ofthe President of the United States at public events, is playedfor the first time in the United States. The origins of the songcome from a poem, "Lady of the Lake," by Sir Walter Scott.Portions of the poem including the phrase, "Hail to theChief," were borrowed by James Sanderson, who set thelines to music, to the melody of an old Scottish song.Sanderson's version was adapted into a play, which premiersin New York today. The song will be so well received that itwill eventually be chosen as the President's announcementmusic, first being played as such in 1815.

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Sailors complete latest Chester’s Challenge

Logistics Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Christopher Saulsberry participates in a pull-up competition as part of Chester’s Challenge in hangar bay three of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

Story and photos by MC3 Jacob Milner

Page 5

Chester’s Challenge, an ongoing fitness challenge between several different

teams of shipmates aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), in hangar bay three yesterday with a pull-up competition.

The eight participating teams, consisting of four members each, have been competing in various exercise and strength challenges throughout the competition. Team Unstoppables, living up to their name, remains in the lead.

“We have eight teams still going,” said Melyssa Patterson, Nimitz’ Fitboss. “The team in the lead is The Unstoppables followed by Bud’s Duds and team YEE YEE. Bud’s Duds moved into second place above YEE YEE after winning the tug of war competition.”

For many contestants, the challenge isn’t just about fitness, it’s also about getting out of their work center with shipmates and having a good time working out.

“I just wanted to be able to get out there and do something,” said Logistics Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Christopher Saulsberry. “The gyms are pretty packed for now so it’s pretty hard to get in some PT in a fun way. I decided to get a team together with the guys I work with, and we’re holding in there.”

Though many of the participants in the competition are not “gym rats,” they do enjoy working out, as well as participating in command fitness activities.

“I like staying in shape, and the best way to do that is for it to be fun,” said Saulsberry. “Instead of

hitting the gym everyday and using the same weights and treadmill, this provides a friendly competition and goals that are reachable. Every command I go to I try to be a part of a fitness competition if there is one.”

For this leg of the competition, a pull-up challenge would decide the victor.

“The competition is going well,” said Patterson. “For this competition each team had four minutes to do as many pull-ups as they could. They were allowed to rotate however they wanted, but all four team members had to go within the four minutes.”

The pull-up competition is the latest challenge of the event, with one more competition to go.

“So far we’ve done an indoor run, a kettle bell snatch, an ammo can carry, a tug of war, a squat and a pull-up competition for a total of seven events once you include the upcoming relay race,” said Patterson.

Some competitors are looking forward to the last event as a second chance to take first place.

“Right now we’re ranked number three over all,” said Saulsberry. “We plan on catching up on the relay race and taking first.”

For more information about Chester’s Challenge or other command fitness programs email Nimitz’ Fitboss at patterson.melyssa@cvn68.navy.mil.

Sailors participate in a pull-up competition as part of Chester’s Challenge in hangar bay three of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Justin Perez participates in a pull-up competition as part of Chester’s Challenge.

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Just inches below USS Nimitz’ (CVN 68) flight deck is a baker’s dozen of machinist’s mates, also known as “steam snipes.” They are working in more than 30 spaces, ensuring the four catapults are operating at the correct levels to guarantee proper aircraft launching and flight operations.

“We work as the middle-man between the Reactor Department and V-2,” said Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class David Ebner, catapult supervisor. “Reactor makes the steam and sends it to us through a bunch of pipes. We take the steam they give us and store it in accumulators until the Air Department is ready to harness it.”

“The ship has four accumulators; one for each catapult,” said Machinist’s Mate Fireman Jacqueline Galvan, catapult mechanic. “I’m one of the catapult rovers. I make sure water levels are maintained because without the proper water level, the wrong amount of steam will be let out and that can cause an aircraft to launch improperly or even crash.”

Each accumulator holds 30,000 gallons of water which is converted into 520 plus or minus 10 pounds per square inch (PSI) of steam. When it’s time, V-2 pushes a button to release the steam from whatever accumulator is attached to the catapult needed to launch an aircraft.

Steam snipes maintain necessary vitals

Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class David Ebner and Machinist’s Mate Fireman Jacqueline Galvan verify the tell-tale drains are closed for accumulator four on board USS Nimitz (CVN 68) May 9.

Story and photos by MCSN Jess Lewis

Every five years an inspection is done on the accumulators and pipes, said Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Dale Lee, catapult supervisor. The most recent one was done during the Docking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA). Two teams of inspectors went through and inspected everything to make sure things were all up to date and made any repairs that were needed. More than 60 feet of piping was replaced and accumulators were repaired to ensure top quality.

“Not only did we score high on the inspection, we were told we have the best catapults on the waterfront,” said Lee.

The hours are long and the work is tedious with no room for error. Work spaces are hot – with temperatures sometimes reaching well over 100 degrees. The roving mechanics move through tight spaces and climb through mini doors in bulkheads to get to various thermostats and water level readers to verify temperatures and water levels are properly logged and maintained.

“With how stressful the work can be, it’s important to have a calm environment to return to,” said Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Alvaro Rodriguez.

“We maintain the vitals behind the scenes for flight operations and launching aircraft,” said Lee.

The snipes wear earplugs due to the loud noises from valves and pipes. Heat stress logs are taken on a regular, daily basis to protect Sailors from heat stress and potential heat stroke.

“Aside from being the liaison

between Reactor Department and V-2, we’re the single point contact for fires in the troughs and launch valve rooms,” said Lee. “We also have to maintain daily heat stress logs because sometimes we work in 130 to 140 degree temperatures.”

“It takes about 12 hours from the initial light-off to reach normal operating parameters but from there it only takes about 30 seconds for an accumulator to recover once an aircraft is launched,” said Ebner. “We supply enough steam for each catapult to launch an aircraft every 15 to 30 seconds.”

“Even though we’re behind the scenes, we have to always be on point. We don’t have the opportunity to mess up, even just a little bit,” said Lee. “If one catapult goes down, the ship can only work at 75 percent of its war fighting capability.”

They’re a proud bunch, and the work shows it. It’s this level of vigilance that will ensure Nimitz will complete its mission.

Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class David Ebner verifies catapults are within normal operating parameters at the catapult supervisor’s watch station on board USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

Machinist’s Mate Fireman Jacqueline Galvan verifies water levels are at the appropriate levels for accumulator three on board USS Nimitz (CVN 68), May 9.

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