number, location, or relationship of the component
REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS
parts. This is true regardless of whether the SHIPALT
Corrective maintenance and repairs to ships may be
is undertaken separately from, incidental to, or in
divided into the general categories of (1) repairs, (2)
conjunction with repairs. NAVSEASYSCOM, the forces
alterations equivalent to repairs, and (3) alterations. It
afloat, or CNO may originate requests for SHIPALTs.
is important that you have an understanding of the
different types of repairs and the difference between a
NAVSEASYSCOM Responsibilities
repair and an alteration.
One of NAVSEASYSCOM's prime responsibilities
for ship maintenance is to administer SHIPALTs under
REPAIRS
its technical control. NAVSEASYSCOM keeps in-
A repair is defined as the work necessary to restore
formed of technical developments in its day-to-day
a ship or an article to serviceable condition without a
relations with the forces afloat, the naval shipyards,
change in design, material, or in the number, location,
private industry, and research centers. NAVSEASYS-
or relationship of parts. Repairs may be done by ship's
COM may determine that a particular ship or class of
force, tenders, ship repair facilities, or by naval or
ships should be altered to bring them to a more efficient
civilian shipyards.
and modem state of readiness. These alterations may be
changes to the hull, such as changes to bulkheads that
ALTERATIONS EQUIVALENTTO REPAIRS
will strengthen bulkheads or changes to deck arrange-
ments that will provide space for installation of
Before we discuss alterations, we need to under-
machinery; changes to machinery or substitution of
stand that NAVSEASYSCOM may determine that some
newer and more efficient machinery; changes to equip-
work requested as an alteration may be better defined
ment, such as the replacement of an item with a more
as an alteration equivalent to repair. In that case,
efficient type; or changes in design. NAVSEASYSCOM
NAVSEASYSCOM forwards the request to the
relies on input from the fleet and unit commanders for
appropriate type commander (TYCOM) to be handled
the need of new SHIPALTs.
as a repair. An alteration is considered to be an
alteration equivalent to a repair if it meets one or more
Commanding Officer Responsibilities
of the following conditions:
When the commanding officer of a ship believes a
Materials that have previously been approved
SHIPALT is necessary, he/she sends a request to
for similar use and that are available from
NAVSEASYSCOM via the administrative chain of
standard stock are substituted without other
command (3-M systems). Copies of the request are sent
change in design.
to all ships of the type within the fleet for comments as
Worn out or damaged parts, assemblies, or
to the value of the SHIPALT for other ships of the
equipment requiring renewal will be replaced
same type or class.
by those of a later and more efficient design
that have been previously approved.
INSURV Responsibilities
Parts that require repair or replacement to
The reports of the Board of Inspection and Survey
(INSURV) are another source of recommended
will be strengthened, provided no other change
SHIPALTs. When the board completes each material
in design is involved.
inspection of a ship, it furnishes a list of recommended
repairs, alterations, and design changes that it feels
Equipment that requires no significant changes
should be made. NAVSEASYSCOM normally will not
in design or functioning but is considered
act on those recommendations until the commanding
essential to prevent recurrence of unsatisfactory
officer of the inspected ship requests the changes, and
conditions will be given minor modifications.
the TYCOM approves.
ALTERATIONS
TY COM Responsibilities
This section deals only with ship alterations (SHIP-
TYCOMs (or other administrative commanders)
ALTs) as opposed to ordnance alterations (ORDALTs).
must endorse all requests for SHIPALTs addressed to
These are alterations to the hull, machinery, equipment,
NAVSEASYSCOM. Their endorsements must include
or fittings that include a change in design, materials,
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