Navy: Y2K will cause few waves

The Navy expects Year 2000 computer problems to result in "few, if any incidents" that would requite a heightened state of readiness, according to a Navy-wide message from Adm. Jay Johnson, Chief of Naval Operations.

The message added that the Navy also does not anticipate any major disruptions to its operations as a result of Year 2000 anomalies, but did direct regional and installation commanders to "closely follow readiness conditions...in the unlikely event that Y2K problems do occur."

During the past year, the Navy has rewritten the software and replaced non-Year 2000-compliant hardware in all but a few of its mission-critical systems.

The Navy then tested the Year 2000 status of its mission-critical systems in a variety of tests both ashore and afloat. Last month, the Japan-based 7th Fleet completed a test of 94 mission-critical systems installed across nine ships with only two minor glitches detected after the ten day test.