Page 4 - Spring 2014 World of Welding

THE WORLD OF WELDING http://www.welding.org

COVER STORY
BIRTH OF A CARRIER: USS GERALD FORD CNV78

By Biazzio Giordano, Jr.
Biazzio Giordano, Jr. is the welding instructor for
Career Technology Education (CTE) at Parkside High
School in Salisbury, Maryland, where he was once
a student. He has also attended Hobart Institute.

Recently I had the privilege of attending the christening of
the latest U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier, the CVN 78 Gerald
Ford. I have watched the carrier grow from small weldments
into larger welded assemblies like huge Lego® pieces as it
sat in the dry dock. Slowly the form of a ship emerged from
the construction as huge, rusted, multi-colored pieces of steel
were welded together, with cables and hoses everywhere,
sparks and grinders filling the air with their shrill whine, while
workers swarmed the ship like ants performing any number
of jobs.

This carrier, unlike any other we have built in the past 50
years, is a brand new piece of technology…the first in line to
replace an aging fleet with many features unseen before in ship
construction. This carrier has a new type of aircraft launching
system that utilizes magnets and a defense system that utilizes same employees have to be able to understand the basic weld
lasers, with a nuclear power plant much smaller and more symbols while their supervisors must be able to interpret the
powerful than the ones used on the U.S.S. Enterprise, truly an most complex of symbols. They must be able make sure their
engineering marvel. equipment is well maintained, do basic troubleshooting, while
watching out for hazardous conditions that they may find.
Walking alongside the carrier, one feels extremely small, with
her towering above and over you. One can only imagine how In this day of an aging workforce it is imperative that we
she stays upright in a rolling sea! The welds on her hull are continue to be able to produce and train employees for these
wide, giving a hint of how many passes it took to fill the joint types of jobs, assuring that we have the workers necessary to
and the thickness of the steel used to build her. However, what be able to perform at this level. But where do we find these
we do not see are the types of steel used in this beast of a employees that have the proper skill set in this aging work
ship. What we cannot see are the weld procedures developed force? Where do we train those people who are willing to
for her construction; the hours of heat treating, testing and learn a trade such as welding? First and foremost, without a
inspections; the volumes of paperwork and pre planning; and proper foundation our skilled employees are going to be hard
the amount of training each craft worker received prior to to find.
beginning work on such an important project.
The American Welding Society has developed the S.E.N.S.E.
Living on the east coast, I am fortunate to have watched the program to guide those who train welders for entry level
USS Ronald Reagan CNV76 (carrier), the USS Minnesota and advanced placement programs. High school welding
SSN783 (submarine) and the USS Texas SSN775 (sub) all be programs, that have not been reduced to industrial arts type
born. Building a project of this size requires many trained courses and are successful, follow these guidelines to produce
craft employees… over 40 trades are used to bring her to welders ready to enter into trade schools or apprenticeship
completion…and welders are in the forefront of bringing this programs. The shipyard that is responsible for construction of
project in on time and on budget. Of course we are speaking of these ships has an in-house training program that all welders
highly trained welders, many who are multi-process qualified go through to become familiar with the rules and quality
and who understand the importance of weld procedures. These standards of the yard.

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