JOINT FLEET MAINTENANCE MANUAL

3.3.14 Light-Off Assessment (Non-Nuclear Powered Ships only).
COMFLTFORCOMINST 4790.3 REV A
a. Light-Off Assessments (LOA) for 1200 psi, 600 psi, Main Propulsion diesel and gas turbine ships will
be conducted before propulsion plant operations at an appropriate time before completion of the fitting
out availability. The ISIC, with the assistance of Afloat Training Group Atlantic/Pacific, will determine
if ship's training procedures and status support safe plant operations, if management programs are
effective, if the propulsion plant is ready for light-off and Ship's Force ability to combat a main space
fire.
b. References (y) and (z) address propulsion plant LOAs administered by the ISIC, with the assistance of
Afloat Training Group Atlantic/Pacific, and recommend that Ship's Force is to have a minimum of two
weeks after completion of industrial activity work in the engineering spaces prior to the LOA.
Experience has shown this two week period is crucial, not only to successful completion of the LOA
but to the operation of the ship subsequent to construction. If it appears the two week interval is in
jeopardy, the ship's OIC should discuss ways to speed up the industrial activity work with the Ship
Superintendent or this subject should be addressed at Supervising Authority progress conferences.
c. Completion of industrial activity work should be interpreted as meaning that all known work and testing
authorized for accomplishment by other than Ship's Force, and which is necessary to support LOA, is
complete, including the removal of associated staging and equipment, reinstallation of access doors and
hatches, cleanup and painting. Fuel, lube oil, and feedwater should be on board. Partial or temporary
installations do not meet completion criteria except as necessary to support the LOA itself or, in the
case of lagging pads, as necessary to allow readjustment upon light-off to hot settings of regulators,
reducers, and relief valves. The systems and spaces involved in LOA vary from ship to ship, but
normally include all systems and spaces needed to support the plant(s) being inspected. This would
include main and auxiliary machinery spaces, switchboards, diesels, shaft alleys, uptakes, repair
lockers, oil laboratories and calibration laboratories for Automatic Boiler Control systems, etc.
Confirm spaces subject to inspection with the Propulsion Examining Board.
d. Emergent work items or additional discrepancies requiring industrial activity work that become
apparent during the pre-LOA period need to be accommodated. Normally these requirements can be
worked during night shifts or inclusive weekends. However, any industrial activity work during this
period will be permitted only with the consent of the Supervising Authority and the OIC.
e. This Key Event is largely an exercise in attention to detail and coordination at and between all three
levels of maintenance activity (Ship's Force, the Shipbuilder and the Supervising Authority). LOA
preparations should begin months before the availability.
f. First-hand inspections of main and auxiliary machinery spaces are most effective when industrial
activity personnel are not on board (weekends and holidays). During these periods, joint inspections by
the Engineer Officer with Leading Petty Officers are recommended for every main space. Similar
inspections of the auxiliary spaces should be conducted by either the CO or the Executive Officer, along
with the Leading Petty Officers of those spaces. Discrepancy lists convert readily to work lists. Night
repair teams (primarily composed of duty section personnel) can work discrepancies when industrial
activity workers are not in the way.
g. The Plan of Action and Milestones for a successful LOA must be written in detail, at the minor
equipment/minor task level, and the more detailed, the better. It is a dynamic document and requires
updating and revision daily as the LOA date approaches.
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