When  the  commanding  officer  of  a  ship  believes  a SHIPALT   is   necessary,   he   sends   a   request   to NAVSEASYSCOM  via  the  administrative  chain  of command. Copies of the request are sent to all ships of the type within the fleet with requests to comment on the value of the SHIPALT for other ships of the type. The reports of the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV)   are   another   source   of   recommended SHIPALTs.  When  the  board  completes  each  material inspection  of  a  ship,  it’s  report  includes  a  list  of recommended repairs, alterations, and design changes. NAVSEASYSCOM  normally  will  not  act  on  those recommendations  until  the  commanding  officer  of  the inspected  ship  requests  the  changes,  and  the  TYCOM approves. TYCOMs (or other administrative commanders) must  endorse  all  requests  for  SHIPALTs  addressed  to NAVSEASYSCOM.  Their  endorsements  must  include recommendations   for   or   against   approval, classification, and applicability to other ships of the type. Copies of the basic request and endorsements are forwarded  to  other  concerned  TYCOMs  with  requests to  comment  on  them  for  the  information  of NAVSEASYSCOM. SHIPALTs  fall  into  two  broad  categories:  military SHIPALTS   and   technical   SHIPALTs.   A   military alteration is one that changes the ship’s operational and military   characteristics   and   improves   the   ship’s operational  capabilities.  Only  CNO  can  approve  a military SHIPALT. A technical SHIPALT is one that improves the safety of personnel and equipment and/or improves   reliability,   ease   of   maintenance,   and efficiency  of  equipment.  Technical  SHIPALTs  are approved at the NAVSEA level. If there is a question as to whether a proposed SHIPALT is military or technical, NAVSEA   will   forward   the   proposal   to   CNO   for determination.  Approved  military  and  technical SHIPALTs are ranked in order of priority on an annual basis  in  the  Amalgamated  Military  and  Technical Improvement Plan. The decision to install a SHIPALT is  based  on  the  priority  of  the  alteration  in  the Amalgamated  Military  and  Technical  Improvement Plan, funding, ship availability, and whether material is available to complete the SHIPALT. When a decision is reached to install a SHIPALT during a given fiscal year, the  alteration  is  entered  into  the  Fleet  Modernization Program  (FMP).  Approved  SHIPALTs  are  authorized  by letters issued not less than 180 days before the ship is scheduled to begin overhaul. REPAIR ACTIVITIES Repair activities are set up to do work the ship’s forces  cannot  handle.  Repair  activities  are  IMAs, SIMAs, SRFs, and shipyards, and they were defined at the beginning of this chapter. The type of work and available funds govern the assignment of repair work to repair   activities.   The   office   of   the   Supervisor   of Shipbuilding   (SUPSHIP)   places   and   administers contracts for the repair or overhaul of naval ships at private shipyards, and contracts for civilian work to be done  in  IMAs,  SIMAs,  and  SRFs.  We  will  explain SUPSHIP in more detail later in the chapter. Fleet and type commanders usually may call on IMAs or SIMAs to handle repairs and alterations under regular, emergency, and concurrent availabilities. If work is beyond an IMA’s or SIMA’s capability, other activities ashore, such as an SRF or a shipyard, will do it. We will discuss work done by the ship’s forces, IMAs, SRFs, and shipyards in the following pages. In addition, we  will  examine  the  organization,  duties  of  personnel, and procedures used in an IMA and a naval shipyard. SHIP’S  FORCE  MAINTENANCE  AND REPAIRS Each ship’s force should be able to make its own normal repairs. To do that, each ship should have the necessary  materials,  repair  parts,  tools,  and  equipment. The most competent and experienced personnel should supervise  these  repairs.  If  ship’s  personnel  are  not familiar with the needed repairs and tests, or cannot handle a problem for any reason, the CO should request an  IMA  or  shipyard  availability.  Supervisory  personnel who are not familiar with these repairs and tests should learn from personnel who are familiar with them while the ship is in an IMA or SIMA availability. If the ship’s force needs technical assistance, they should request it from the local TYCOM’s maintenance representatives. The ship’s force should follow a regular schedule of preventive maintenance to be sure that equipment and machinery  are  always  ready  for  service.  This  includes cleaning, inspections, operations, and tests to ensure trouble-free  operation  and  to  detect  faults  before  they become  major  problems.  Some  inspections  and  tests  are quite simple; others require planning so they can be done during upkeep or overhaul periods. INTERMEDIATE   MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES You learned earlier in the chapter that IMAs are repair  ships  (AR),  destroyer  tenders  (AD),  and 9-3