According to various recent reports, the U.S. Navy is facing delays in reintegrating one of its Nimitz-class aircraft carriers due to significant damage detected during refurbishment work on the vessel’s steam turbines. Specifically, the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) is experiencing delays in its maintenance and refurbishment process. Similarly, the USS George Washington (CVN-73), while operational, underwent an extended maintenance process for the same reason. Both carriers were affected during their mid-life overhauls and nuclear reactor refueling.
An official statement indicated that routine inspections and refurbishment of the eight turbines (four per ship) revealed significant damage to the generators upon arrival at the Newport News Shipbuilding yard of HII for scheduled maintenance. This led to unplanned work and extensions of their delivery dates.
The scheduled inspections are typically conducted every four years, but despite this, the Stennis took five and a half years to complete its overhaul, which began in 2021. Recent statements suggest it is expected to finish by mid-August 2025, with an additional estimated 14 months due to the extra work.
Regarding the USS George Washington, its mid-life overhaul took six years to complete. It departed the shipyard in May and headed for Japan to replace the USS Ronald Reagan. During its transit, the carrier participated in naval exercises in South America under the Southern Seas 2024 exercises, which are nearing completion.
The affected turbines are crucial for converting steam from the nuclear reactors into mechanical power to propel the carrier and generate electricity for onboard systems. Originally installed over 30 years ago, these turbines were designed to last the carrier’s entire lifespan.
These increased workloads and delays in delivery will impact the availability of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and their presence where needed.
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