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In 1994, The Office of Naval Research funded a major phased Maintenance
Availability of FLIP. The FLIP Maintenance Availability commenced at the
Campbell Shipyard, San Diego, California, on 12 December 1994 and was
officially concluded with the completion of a successful sea trial 18-19
January 1996. The Maintenance Availability was conducted in phases, with
FLIP supporting research operations between maintenance phases.
During planning for the Maintenance Availability, priorities were established
for the accomplishment of repairs, upgrades and maintenance. The established
priorities were; structural repairs, safety requirements, upgrades to
meet Federal and State regulations, habitability improvements and material
reliability. The established priorities were successfully met.
Structural deficiencies reported by Carderock NSWC engineers following
a 1993 inspection were corrected with repairs to the interior hull structure,
replacement of exterior deck sections and replacement of 6 sea chests
as well as numerous sections of interior air and water piping. Safety
was significantly increased with a major electrical upgrade, installation
of an escape hatch from tank 10, boom and winch repairs, installation
of a machinery monitoring system, fire main system and a reliable fathometer
system. FLIP was brought into compliance with existing regulations with
the installation of an approved sanitation system, fire main system, machinery
monitoring system, general announcing system and the removal of wooden
structures throughout the platform. Material reliability was enhanced
with the overhaul of all engines and generators, overhaul of the air compressors,
overhaul of the air-conditioning system, replacement of the radar and
fathometer, overhaul of all valves and piping systems and replacement
of the water-maker. Habitability improvements included all new galley
equipment, new bunks with Coast Guard approved mattresses, replacement
of all wooden lockers with light colored aluminum lockers, new deck tile
and new improved insulation in all living compartments.
Following the completion of the Maintenance Availability in 1996, FLIP
was a safer, more efficient platform from which to conduct oceanographic
research. Most importantly, though FLIP remains an uninspected research
platform, FLIP now meets major Coast Guard regulations for ocean-going
platforms. With the existing aggressive continuing preventative maintenance
program, the operational life of FLIP has been extended for an indefinite
period.
Since completion of the Maintenance Availability in 1996, an aggressive
inspection and preventative maintenance program has been in place, including
annual tank inspections and refurbishment of two ballast tanks each year.
The preventative maintenance program is successful in maintaining FLIP
in a high state of material readiness.
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