should only be issued to persons who have
many valves, but it does not have complete
a need to use them. A program that gives
shipwide system valve coverage. A sound
everyone access to everything is ineffective.
valve maintenance program can ensure proper
maintenance of all shipboard valves.
Some method must be maintained to allow
When starting an effective valve maintenance,
duty section personnel access to keys, when
personnel must verify all valves in a piping system.
necessary. Methods for this include watch key
rings, duty engineer keys, and an engineering key
To accomplish this, they must use a variety of
locker.
resources. These include EOSS drawings, ship's
The reduction gear covers are also included
prints, and damage control plates. After a list is
in physical security. The keys for these high-
developed, you will be responsible for checking
security locks are held by the chief engineer.
it against the actual ship's piping to determine the
Since no opening of a reduction gear is allowed
condition of each valve and ensure each valve is
without his approval, he should be the only
actually in place. Maintenance workers assigned
person allowed to have these keys. For more
to this task should not change the status of any
information on reduction gear security, refer to
valve. This is to ensure that they do not
the Naval Ships' Technical Manual, Chapter 241,
inadvertently change the status of the engineering
"Propulsion Reduction Gears, Couplings, and
plant. Periodic valve maintenance ensures that
Associated Components."
valves are packed properly, lubricated, painted
correctly (for example, no paint on threads or
Environmental Quality
stem), have the correct type and color coding of handwheel
installed, and have identification tags installed.
All Navy personnel are responsible for finding
Check all valves with locking devices to ensure
ways to reduce pollution of our land, air, and
the locks are in place, adequate, and intact.
water. You can do your part by strictly complying
Supervisors of the valve maintenance program
with U.S. Navy regulations and instructions. For
generate and maintain local forms to keep a
more detailed information concerning pollution
record of valve maintenance. Most of the
abatement, refer to the Environmental and
maintenance can be scheduled during underway
Natural Resources Manual, OPNAVINST 5090.1.
periods; however, you should ensure that proper
tag-out procedures are followed. For additional
Gauge Calibration
information on valve maintenance, refer to
OPNAVINST 3540.5.2.
Calibration of shipboard gauges and meters
is essential to ensure proper operation of complex
PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION
engineering equipment. Calibration is normally
STANDARDS
done by specially trained personnel. Most of this
calibration is scheduled under 3-M Systems
The PQS documents describe the knowledge
scheduling. Use standard 3-M forms to request
and skills a trainee must have to perform certain
outside assistance from the readiness support
duties. They speed up the learning progress since
group (RSG) in your homeport for this calibra-
each person knows exactly what information to
tion. For detailed information on the gauge
obtain to prepare for qualifying in increasingly
calibration program, refer to the Naval Ships'
complex duties. They individualize learning so
Technical Manual, Chapter 491, "Electrical
each person may take advantage of opportunities
Measuring and Testing Equipment," and Chapter
to learn on the job. They place the responsibilities
504, " P r e s s u r e , Temperature, and Other
for learning on the trainee and encourage self-
Mechanical and Electromechanical Measuring
achievement. They offer a means for the super-
Instruments."
visor to check individual speed and performance
by providing a convenient record of accomplish-
Valve Maintenance
ment.
Since the PQS have been assembled by groups
Each ship in the Navy depends on the integrity
of its valves to prevent flooding, to correctly
of experienced officers and petty officers, they
attempt to represent the guidance that would be
secure systems, and to ensure proper management
of liquid systems. Since a ship has numerous
furnished if each person had an individual
piping systems with many valves, a method
instructor throughout each step.
Every PQS is designed to support advance-
to ensure proper valve maintenance is needed.
ment in rating requirements as stated in the
The 3-M Systems includes maintenance on
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