Newport News Shipbuilding recognized the necessity to enhance its existing undocking procedures for aircraft carriers that remained in dry dock for extended periods. The previous method was problematic because it relied heavily on a labor-intensive process of tracking weights on and off the ship. This approach was based on estimated percentages of work completion, often using authorized drawings, which were themselves limited in availability. Trades supervisors would oversee the status of work packages, but these did not always align with the official drawings. Moreover, the process was hampered by frequent inaccuracies in reporting weight changes by both the ship’s force and various trades.

The previous undocking process created operational risks. It did not allow the ship’s side-to-side balance to be corrected during flooding. Undocking continued without stopping to check or fix the list, increasing safety risks in critical phases.

To address these shortcomings, Newport News Shipbuilding implemented a revised process that drew on the expertise of the dock master and naval architects. The new process made several key changes:

These improvements enabled real-time adjustments to the carrier’s list while the dry dock was flooded.

The updated method used calibrated micrometer levels and transits to precisely measure the ship’s list. Transporters equipped with test weights were strategically positioned on the flight deck, allowing for fine adjustments to both list and trim. During the undocking event, when the water level reached 28 feet, the process slowed or even halted, flooding the dry dock. This pause provided the time necessary for micrometers to calibrate the carrier’s list, ensuring greater safety and control.

Removing manual weight reporting saved labor and resolved a safety issue. Adjusting the ship’s list during undocking improved safety and efficiency.