Q A__3__attachment_Decontamination_Station.doc

Contract Technical Requirements Surveillance Information Bulletin

Purpose:

To clarify guidance concerning the construction and outfitting of Decontamination (DECON) stations to ensure the fit, form, and function meets the requirements of Military Sealift Command. This bulletin will provide Operating Companies assistance, guidance, and recommendations to minimize future Onboard Condition Inspection (OCI) findings, wasteful expenditures, and improper DECON Station installations.

References:

a) COMSC Instruction 3541.5D (MSC Damage Control Manual)

b) MSC Standard Plan for Decontamination Stations (802-4844759 Rev (a)).

c) Vessel Specific Operating Contracts Discussion:

Errors and confusion on the retro-fitting of DECON stations on MSC contractor-operated vessels has been a serious issue in recent years. This has caused various operating companies to craft a number of different interpretations of reference (a) and (b) which has resulted in many incorrect DECON installations, including missing equipment.

Reference (a) is applicable to all MSC force ships except when ship damage control provisions of an operating contract of charter agreement vary from that instruction, the charter or contract agreement will govern. Nothing in reference (a) is construed to be a modification of the contract. Reference (a) states that ship's characteristics shall comply with the latest COMSC authorized standards for the design, operation and maintenance of CBR-D systems (DECON stations, countermeasure washdown systems and collective protection systems, if installed) unless specifically excluded by COMSCINST 3541.5D or exempted by COMSC.

Reference (b) provides the general guidance for the installation configuration and lay out and is found in Appendix C, Enclosure 1 of reference (a). Reference (c) may provide more specific design and construction requirements and may also require a preliminary design be reviewed and approved by MSCHQ Damage Control Office.

Reference (a) provides for two installation and equipment standard levels (Non-Collective Protection System (CPS) Ships), they are known as OPTIMUM and MINIMUM.

OPTIMUM installation and equipment standard level:

The OPTIMUM installation and equipment standard level is illustrated in MSC Standard Plan 802-4844759 Rev (a), and is intended for all future installations and upgrades unless superseded by the requirements of the operating contract or by new technical developments and specifications from the Navy/Government experts and approved by COMSC.

It is understood by Military Sealift Command that the exact size and configuration of these specific DECON station installations will vary from vessel to vessel, depending on the space available in certain deck house arrangements. Reference (b) provides the installer with great latitude in devising the three-stage DECON station floor plan design for any particular vessel, as well as the required outfitting and stenciling.

Much of the confusion on the part of the operating companies has been created by the notes section of Reference (b) which states “…this drawing provides guidance…” Many operating companies have interpreted this to mean that installation of the required outfitting in the DECON station detailed in the parts list and notes of reference (a), such as installing stenciling, communication equipment, power source requirements, plumbing and drain requirements, were optional. Although the operating company has the latitude to choose the make and model for some of the installed equipment, the DECON station must be able to perform properly in a CBRD environment. This requires the DECON station be installed to meet the fit, form, and function as designed in Reference (b).

MINIMUM installation and equipment standard level:

As per reference (a), the MINIMUM installation and equipment standard level applies to existing ships and consists of a Gross DECON Area, Contamination Control Area (CCA) (outer garment removal) and a DECON site (inner garment removal and showering), that is to be identified and established. In general, a ship's head with a separate entrance and exit, close to a weather entrance will be utilized. The DECON station must be capable of isolating the contamination with the entrance side considered "dirty" and the exit side considered “clean”. The design must ensure that the flow of personnel through the station will preclude backtracking through possible contaminated areas.

As invoked by reference (a), Section 470-4.5.1 of Naval Ships Technical Manual (NSTM) Chapter 470, “Shipboard BW/CW Defense and Countermeasures,” provides general guidance on the arrangement of DECON stations at the MINIMUM equipment standard level and general procedures for decontamination.

On Collective Protection System (CPS) Ships, the DECON station shall be designed and installed in accordance with the latest directives published by NSWC, Dahlgren. Structural design and installation equipment performance criteria shall be strictly adhered to in order to ensure overall CPS system operability. NSWC shall be the final approval authority for all MSC CPS system installations.

Action:

1. To meet the requirements of references (a) and (c), operators that have been tasked to install a DECON station depicted in reference (b) - MSC Standard Plan for Decontamination Stations (802-4844759 Rev (a) must complete the following:

a. Ensure all the fit, form, and function requirements are met in the design of the DECON station as specified by references (a) and (b) as well as specific instructions provided in each operating contract.

b. Ensure the design incorporates all of the fit, form, and function requirements of the parts and equipment listed for the Optimum design in references (a) and (b) including but not limited to:

PC #

QTY

NOTE #

DESCRIPTION – REQUIREMENT

Intercoms and MIC (Hands Free) with splash shield

Faucet with ¾ hose attachement

Light switch, outer garment removal area entrance

Mirror, outer garment area bulkhead

Portable stool, outer garment removal area

2” X 2” X 6 boot wash (Approximate size)

2” Drain, directly overboard

4” Drain, directly overboard

Bar grating (1” Stainless) DECON shower

32 Gallon waste cans

15” X 21” fixed viewing window, inner garment area bulkhead

26” X 66” X 9” water tight quick acting door

(QAWT) with viewing port.

Portable scissor tray

26” X 66” X 9” quick acting water tight door

(QAWT)

Functions required in the notes of Reference (b):

Note #

DESCRIPTION - REQUIRMENT

Lighting shall have night red light capability and be wired to the ship’s emergency lighting circuit.

Doors to the weather shall have darken ship switches.

Stenciling white letters on red back ground (Notes 22A through 22E)

DECON shower nozzle arrangement

c. If you have any doubt about the design of your OPTIMAL equipment standard level DECON station, simply submit a draft design drawing to MSC for approval to the Program Office and the MSCHQ DC Engineer Jonathan N. Berman

MSCHQ DC Engineer

Military Sealift Command

914 Charles Morris Ct, SE

Washington Navy Yard, DC 20398-5540

202-685-5747 (office)

202-340-7667 (mobile) jonathan.berman@navy.mil

2. If you have a DECON station already installed with or without out an MSC approved drawing, or if you currently have inspection findings pending on OCI WEBTRACKER, contact your Program Office and the MSCHQ Damage Control Office for direction and guidance on correcting the deficiencies.

Applicability:

Ships (non-CPS) with OPTIMAL equipment standard level DECON stations specified in their contracts;

BBC Seattle

MV Green Wave

MV Maersk Peary MV Mohegan

Ships (non-CPS) with MINIMAL equipment standard level DECON stations specified in their contracts or not specifically specified, but must meet the requirements of reference (a);

T-AGS

T-AGOS

T-AGM

USNS Gordon & Gilliland Bob Hope Class LMSRs MV Carter & MV Page USNS Yano & Shughart Watson Class LMSRs USNS Gianella State Class Tankers Kocak Class MPS USNS Martin MV Megan Beyel Bobo Class MPS MV Bennett MV VADM Wheeler USNS Stockham & Wheat MV Chapman

SBX-1

All PM1 ships (except T- AOE-6)

Ships (with CPS):

T-AOE