Only a relatively small number of welders skipped a preheating step, according to investigations of the work at Newport News Shipbuilding, shown here. (Janes/Michael Fabey)
The investigations on questionable welds at HII's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) unit are now complete and shipbuilders are working with the US Navy (USN) to determine what welding needs to be fixed, according to Jennifer Boykin, NNS president and HII executive vice-president.
The investigations determined that about “two dozen welders” out of a force of about 1,700 “skipped a step” in the welding process and were identified through either self-reporting or other shipyard reporting, Boykin said on 6 December during a media interview in advance of the christening of Virginia-class attack submarine Arkansas (SSN 800) on 7 December.
“All welds are different,” Boykin said. “Welds have low, medium, and high criticality. For some welds, depending on the requirement, you preheat the metal to get to a certain temperature.”
That was the step that was skipped in the questionable welds, she noted. “The metal wasn't heated as long [as required] or not heated.”
Now shipbuilders and the navy have developed a method for testing and assessing how many welds will have to be repaired, she said. “I'm sure there will have to be some work.”
HII confirmed on 27 September that it found and reported welding issues at its NNS yard, which builds the nation's nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines as US lawmakers announced the same day they would be investigating those issues.
“We discovered through internal reporting that some welders knowingly circumvented certain welding procedures,” NNS spokesperson Todd Corillo told Janes on 27 June.
“Based on our initial investigation, there is no indication of malicious intent,” Corillo said.
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