BATH

After experiencing an equipment failure at sea last week, the future USS Michael Monsoor returned to Bath Iron Works early from builder’s trials.

On Dec. 4, the Bath-built guided-missile destroyer navigated down the Kennebec River and out into the open ocean to conduct builder’s trials. Following an equipment failure the next day, the vessel returned to the BIW pier Thursday.

The following day, “while underway conducting Builder’s Trials (BTs), DDG 1001 experienced an equipment failure to a harmonic filter after loss of an induction coil, impacting the ship’s ability to test propulsion and electrical systems at full power,” said Naval Sea Systems Command spokeswoman Colleen E. O’Rourke. “Harmonic filters are required to meet power quality standards for downstream equipment.”

Unimpacted systems continued to be tested after the failure prior to returning to the shipyard.

The builder’s trials are a series of tests on the hull, mechanical and engineering components of the vessel in the ocean. The tests are an important step toward the completion of the ship, and ensure that the vessel is prepared for acceptance trials, which will be undertaken before the ship is delivered to the Navy. Combat systems will be tested after delivery.

Three more days of sea trials will be completed prior to acceptance trials, according to BIW.

The USS Michael Monsoor is the second of three Zumwalt-class destroyers, all three of which will be built by BIW. The destroyers are highly advanced, implementing several new technologies and featuring an all-electric propulsion system. Experts say that with so many new technologies onboard, occasional breakdowns should be expected. The lead ship, the USS Zumwalt, had experienced multiple breakdowns before being commissioned and arriving at its homeport in San Francisco.

“Successfully executing this phase of ship construction required enormous collaboration across the Navy/industry team and the hard work of thousands of BIW shipbuilders and their local Supervisor of Shipbuilding counterparts,” said BIW in a statement. “The Zumwalt class of destroyers is the largest and most technically advanced surface combatant in the world. These ships feature state-of-the-art electric propulsion, a wave-piercing tumblehome hull, stealth design and the latest war fighting technology and weaponry available. The fact that DDG 1001 is a Bath-built ship is an accomplishment that all Mainers can be proud of.”

According to O’Rourke, the repairs necessitated by the equipment failure will not impact the ship’s scheduled delivery to the Navy in March.