The future USS Harrisburg (LPD 30) reached a major milestone with the successful light-off of its main propulsion engines, bringing the ship one step closer to sea trials and delivery.
Main Engine Light Off (MELO) marks the first time the ship's propulsion engines are started and operated. It's a milestone years in the making and requires extensive planning, testing and coordination across the ship.
Before the engines could turn, shipbuilders worked through months of preparation, including flushing and testing fuel, oil and water systems, energizing equipment and establishing the complete intake and exhaust air path.
For Timothy Hebert, test engineer, Test & Trials, the event was both a professional milestone and a reminder of the experience found throughout the shipyard.
"This was my first MELO, and it was a huge learning experience," he said.
Timothy has been at Ingalls for five years and has been in Test & Trials just over a year.
"There's so much that goes into running these engines, and I leaned from shipbuilders who've done this for years,” he said. “I couldn't have done it without their support and knowledge."
While the milestone belongs to Test & Trials, MELO isn't owned by a single team. It represents thousands of hours of work from shipbuilders across the yard and support from all of Ingalls organizations.
As the engines came online, it reflected the craftsmanship, coordination and commitment of teams across Harrisburg and the many shipbuilders who have contributed to the ship since construction began.
"As the lead ship of the Flight II program, LPD 30 represents the future of LPDs," said Josh Box, LPD 30 Ship Program Manager. "Achieving MELO is a significant step forward and reflects the incredible work taking place across the ship. Every milestone builds momentum as we prepare for the next stages of testing."
Harrisburg is the first Flight II San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock and will provide the Navy and Marine Corps with critical amphibious capability for decades to come. Additionally, Ingalls is building Pittsburgh (LPD 31) and Philadelphia (LPD 32), with contracts awarded for LPDs 33 through 35.