USS George Washington moved from dry dock for next phase of overhaul

Newport News Shipbuilding has completed the dry dock portion of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington’s (CVN 73) refuelling and complex overhaul (RCOH), its parent company Huntington Ingalls Industries announced on 30 September. 

Following the recent flooding of more than 100 million gallons of water into the dry dock, the US Navy vessel has been moved to an outfitting berth, where it will begin final outfitting and testing. 

The overhaul is now more than 60% complete and on track to be completed in late 2021, the company says. 

‘Getting George Washington out of the dry dock and back into the water is an important milestone in the overhaul process for shipbuilders, sailors and our government partners,’ Chris Miner, Newport News’ VP of in-service aircraft carrier programmes, said. 

‘Over the next 24 months we will focus on readying the ship for the next 25 years of its operational life. Once our work is complete, George Washington will leave Newport News Shipbuilding as the world’s most technologically advanced Nimitz-class warship in the fleet.’

During the dry dock phase of the RCOH, USS George Washington underwent upgrades and repair work both inside and outside the ship. 

In addition to defueling and refuelling its power plant, Newport News shipbuilders have re-preserved some 600 tanks and replaced thousands of valves, pumps and piping components. 

On the outside, the company performed structural updates to the island, mast and antenna tower, upgraded all aircraft launch and recovery equipment, painted the ship’s hull including sea chests and freeboard, updated the propeller shafts, and installed refurbished propellers.

During the next phase of the project, shipbuilders will finish up the overhaul and installation of the ship’s major components and test its electronics, combat and propulsion systems before the carrier is redelivered to the US Navy. 

During this period the ship’s living areas, including crew living spaces, galleys and mess decks, will also be improved. 

The carrier arrived at the shipyard in August 2017, and is the sixth in its class to undergo the RCOH.

Once this overhaul is complete, the ship will be equipped to operate with the USN fleet for the second half of its 50-year expected service life.

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