USS John C. Stennis arrives at NNS to start its RCOH

US Navy’s aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis has arrived at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division to start its refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH).

The vessel arrived on 6 May 2021 to begin its mid-life refueling overhaul and maintenance availability, after years of advance planning.

USS John C. Stennis will be the seventh Nimitz-class aircraft carrier to undergo its RCOH, representing 35 per cent of all maintenance and modernisation completed during its 50-year service life.

Newport News will perform hull and freeboard blast and paint, repairs to its propellers, sea chests, shafts, and rudders and defueling and refueling of its power plant over the next four years.

This will continue through late 2025 and is expected to produce a recapitalised carrier capable of supporting current and future warfare doctrine while continuing to operate as the centerpiece of the Navy fleet and national defense for another 25 years.

Todd West, Newport News’ vice president, in-service aircraft carrier programs, said: “For the last three years, we have planned each step of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis’ (CVN 74) RCOH, including procuring long lead-time materials, conducting shipboard inspections and readying our facilities for this extensive engineering and construction project.”