NORFOLK — Sailors assigned to Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity (SIMA) Norfolk and waterfront units participated in a concentrated, four-day Watertight Closures Maintenance Training (WCMT) course on Aug. 10, 2026, focused on practical skills to inspect, repair and certify watertight doors, hatches and scuttles essential to a ship’s integrity.
Hands-on instruction tied to readiness
The recurring course is part of the Naval Afloat Maintenance Training Strategy (NAMTS) and is intended to return more capable technicians to the fleet. Students moved beyond classroom theory to intensive, supervised practice on mock-ups and training equipment where they removed, installed, tested and reassembled closure components under the guidance of experienced personnel.
Training emphasized both mechanical and measurement skills. Sailors were introduced to specialized tools — including conrod bearing devices, knife-edge measuring tools and bushing pullers — and practiced techniques such as chalk testing, gasket servicing and machinery alterations that affect watertight performance.
Course goals and participant impact
According to a WCMT instructor and subject matter expert, Sharon Jones, the course aims to sharpen technician self-reliance, expand repair capability and establish qualifications for certified Watertight Closure Maintenance Technicians. The broader objective is to enhance a ship’s watertight integrity and overall fleet warfighting readiness.
"The primary training objectives of the WCMT Course are to enhance Sailor self-sufficiency, strengthen watertight closure repair capabilities, and develop qualified and certified Watertight Closure Maintenance Technicians," said Sharon Jones.
Participants reported immediate benefits. In a post-course survey cited by SIMA Norfolk, one sailor said the instruction offered valuable knowledge for both personal development and the training of their Sailors, noting the course provided tangible skills applicable aboard naval vessels.
- Duration: four days (Aug. 10, 2026 session)
- Audience: Sailors from SIMA Norfolk and waterfront units
- Focus: inspection, maintenance, repair and certification of watertight closures
What students practiced
Using training stations and full-scale mock-ups, trainees practiced a range of tasks that mirror real-world demands on ships. The course covered quick-acting doors, individually dogged doors, various hatch types and specialized closure configurations they are likely to encounter on board.
| Topic | Skill emphasized |
|---|---|
| Inspection and measurement | Layout, chalk testing, knife-edge measurement |
| Mechanical repairs | Gasket maintenance, bushing removal, conrod bearing use |
| Component handling | Removal, installation, disassembly/reassembly |
SIMA Norfolk officials framed the WCMT as a recurring element of their training calendar designed to build intermediate-level maintenance capability ashore that directly supports afloat forces. By training Sailors to diagnose and fix closure issues aboard ships, the activity seeks to reduce dependence on external repair resources and shorten downtime for vessels in the Hampton Roads region and beyond.
For Norfolk — home to the nation’s largest naval base complex — programs like the WCMT address a local operational imperative: maintaining the readiness of ships that frequently transit or dock in the region. The practical nature of the training also contributes to workforce development at SIMA Norfolk, ensuring technicians possess both the hands-on experience and the certifications that commanders expect.
As the Navy continues to emphasize sustainment and fleet availability, SIMA Norfolk’s blend of classroom instruction and repeated application reflects a broader shift toward ensuring junior and mid-level Sailors gain the tools and certifications needed to keep ships mission-capable.
Additional WCMT sessions are planned as part of SIMA Norfolk’s ongoing efforts to meet the maintenance demands of the fleet and to develop a more self-sufficient force.
