DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
NAVAL SEA SYSTEMS COMMAND
2631 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY
ARLINGTON VA 22242-5160
IN REPLY REFER TO
11460
Ser 03D3/242
3 Jan 95
From: Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command
To:
Chief of Naval Operations (W44) Chief of Naval Operations (WB8)
Subj: CVN 68 CLASS WATER DEPTH REQUIREMENTS
Ref:
(a) NAVSEA ltr 11460 Ser PMS312/792 of 30 Apr 91
(b) NAVSEA ltr 11460 Ser 03D3/144 of 9 Aug 94
(c) COMNAVAIRLANT ltr 4700 Ser N431F/01400 of 19 May 94
Encl: (1) CNV 68 C1ass Home Port Water Depth Requirements
(2) CVN 68 Class Shipyard Water Depth Requirements
(3) CVN 68 Class Shallow Water Navigation Improvements
1.
NAVSEA has determined the water depth requirements for CVN 68 Class
aircraft carriers in home ports, ports of call, and shipyards. The pier and
channel depths requirements previously provided in reference (a) are
superseded. These water depth requirements augment those previously provided
for San Diego in reference (b), and respond to the reference (c) request for
Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
2.
Enclosure (1) provides water depth requirements for home ports.
Attachment (1) of enclosure (1) also applies to ports of call. The ship's
mean draft used for home ports corresponds to the limiting displacement and is
considered the proper basis for dredging since it will permit operations of a
fully loaded ship. Enclosure (2) provides water depth requirements for
shipyards. The ship's mean draft used for shipyards was reduced based on the
assumption that only 55% of the sbip's loads (aircraft, fuel, personnel,
stores, etc) would be onboard. Each enclosure describes and quantifies the
components that contribute to the CVN 68 Class draft and clearance; the
governing depth requirements for the pier, turning basin, inner channel, and
outer channel for each home port and shipyard; general tide information for
each home port and shipyard; and a graphical representation of the
relationship between the number of days of access to the turning basin and
inner channel, the length of the tide window, and the dredging project depth
for the governing depth requirement of each home port and shipyard.
3.
While at the pier, in the turning basin, or in the inner channel of a
home port or a port of call, it is recommended that there be a minimum of 50
feet of water depth. While at the pier, in the turning basin, or in the inner
channel of a shipyard, it is recommended that there be a minimum of 47 feet of
water depth, assuming the ship has been offloaded. Entering a shipyard
without offloading should be treated as a port of call. These water depth
requirements are governed by the sea chest fouling
Attachment (a)
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