McCain urges end to 100-hour work weeks in Navy after collisions

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

#U.S. SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 / 2:08 PM / UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO

McCain urges end to 100-hour work weeks in Navy after collisions

Reuters Staff
3 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator John McCain called on Tuesday for an immediate stop to U.S. sailors working over 100 hours a week as top Navy leaders struggled to explain a series of fatal naval collisions in the past few months.

Earlier this month, the Government Accountability Office government watchdog said that a reduction in crew sizes was contributing to safety risks, with some sailors working over 100 hours a week.

“I think I know what 100 hours a week does to people over time and that has been standard procedure for a long time,” McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said.

“I‘m glad you’ve got RAND and whoever the hell else it is that is studying (the issue)... (but) you could make the change tomorrow,” McCain added. RAND is a U.S.-backed think tank.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-navy-congress/mccain-urges-end-to-100-hour-work-weeks-in-navy-after-collisions-idUSKCN1BU2GN

[dubyadiprecession]

1. Did John McCain just realize that sailors in the Navy are working 100 hours a week?

I'm not saying John McCain should get out once in awhile and take a walk and look around, but any U.S. senator shouldn't have to stumble upon this as a covered up state secret.

[Kaleva]

2. Ships are getting bigger and the crews are getting smaller

The flight III Burke class DDGs are much bigger then the decommissioned Adams class DDGs but have about 60 fewer crew members. While automation can reduce crew size, you still need sailors to do tasks that cannot be automated. Line handling, compartment cleaning, painting and such.

[Angleae]

3. Imagine what USS Zumwalt will be like in a few years.

50% increase in size, less than half the crew of a Burke.

[Kaleva]

4. I saw a change going from an Adams class DDG to a OHP class FFG

Grunt work that one never saw a 1st class do on the former was done on the latter.