The U. S. Navy's Shipboard Solid Waste Program: Managing a Highly Accelerated Fleet‐wide Ship System Integration Program

Abstract

AbstractThe FY‐94 and FY‐97 National Defense Authorization Acts amended the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) to require fleet‐wide installation of Plastics Waste Processors by December 1998, and installation of Pulpers and Shredders by December 2000. These requirements translate to an acquisition program, which could rapidly develop, procure and deploy processing equipment on about 200 surface ships (over 24 ship classes) within three years. To date, this program has successfully completed the ship integration of the Plastic Waste Processor and is in the stages of implementing the Pulpers and Shredders. » A previous paper on this subject broadly described the development of the acquisition strategy, the development of the equipment and the fleet integration plan. This paper focuses on the ownership issues of the program and how they affect program decisions. It reviews how the Navy selected its current compliance strategy, including the consideration of its effects on marine environment through the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) studies. It details the various processes NAVSEA implemented to ensure the delivery of quality and affordable “turn‐key” system to the fleet. These processes included a comprehensive installation design and review; rapid incorporation of lessons learned; timely deployment of Integrated Logistics Support to meet fleet operations to meet fleet introduction which included establishing interim spares; and instituting a comprehensive In‐Service Engineering Agent assist and inspection program.