The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis is moved to an outfitting berth in Newport News, Va., on April 8, 2024. (Simon Pike/U.S. Navy))
A damaged steam turbine generator is contributing to the delayed maintenance of the USS John C. Stennis as the aircraft carrier undergoes its midlife overhaul, service officials said.
The unplanned repairs to one of the ship’s eight steam turbine generators pushed the ship’s maintenance back by 14 months to October 2026, Naval Sea Systems Command spokesman Alan Baribeau said. The same problem was discovered when overhauling the USS George Washington, he said.
Steam turbine generators convert heat from nuclear reactors into mechanical energy and electricity, acting as a power plant to keep the warship’s many systems running.
The Stennis entered HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding site in Virginia in May 2021 for maintenance. Aircraft carriers are overhauled after about 25 years to extend their lifespans to a cumulative 50 years. The overhauls incorporate upgrades to propulsion equipment, infrastructure and electronic systems, as well as refueling the carrier’s nuclear reactors.
“Each refueling and complex overhaul work package includes planned inspections and routine refurbishment of the eight turbine generators. These inspections on both George Washington and John C. Stennis revealed one generator on each ship with significant damage (beyond ‘normal wear and tear’) that resulted in unplanned growth work and contributed to schedule extensions on both ships,” Baribeau said.
The turbine damage, he said, contributed to the majority of the Stennis’ overall schedule delay.
Overhauls for Nimitz-class carriers typically take about four years. The Navy estimates the Stennis overhaul will take about 5½ years. The USS George Washington, which was delivered to the Navy in 2023, took six years.
Receiving material late and labor challenges are also contributing factors to the Stennis overhaul delays, as was the case for the Washington, Baribeau said.
The Navy is conducting a study to review and better identify consistent overhaul issues. The goal of the study, Baribeau said, is to improve contracts so the shipbuilder can better plan and procure material to minimize schedule impacts.
Additionally, the Navy has worked to improve budget estimates for the USS Harry S. Truman overhaul based on an assessment of previous labor hours.
“Improved budgeting, advance planning and material procurement are expected to result in improved execution performance on future refueling and complex overhauls,” Baribeau said.
HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding was awarded a $913 million contract for the advanced procurement for refueling and overhaul of the Truman, the Pentagon announced in January. The advanced procurement work is set to be completed in 2026. The announcement did not set a time frame for the Truman to arrive at Newport News.
In the meantime, the Navy asked for additional funds through fiscal 2026 to provide off-ship housing for Stennis sailors.
The Stennis was the first aircraft carrier to move all sailors off the ship during its multiyear refueling and complex overhaul. The change was made following a string of suicides aboard the Washington while it was in the shipyard. A probe conducted by U.S. Fleet Force found Washington sailors experienced poor living conditions, up to three-hour commutes and isolation during the overhaul.
The service announced a $120 million contract in June to build a multilevel parking garage in Newport News for sailors and shipyard workers. The garage, which is slated to be complete April 2026, will provide an additional 2,000 parking spaces.
