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Home» News»USS Gerald R. Ford Returns to Sea Following Long Maintenance Period
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ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 27, 2019) USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) steams in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time since July 2018. Ford is conducting sea trials following its 15 month post-shakedown availability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Connor Loessin)

USS Gerald R. Ford Returns to Sea Following Long Maintenance Period

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) got underway October 25, 2019, for sea trials from Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS) division following a 15-month pierside maintenance period.

Xavier Vavasseur 28 Oct 2019

NAVSEA press release

Prior to getting underway, CVN 78 conducted a multi-day, pier-side “Fast Cruise,” where the crew worked through simulated at-sea operating scenarios. Gerald R. Ford then departed NNS and headed into the Atlantic Ocean for sea trials, putting into practice lessons learned from the Fast Cruise and starting a critical phase of underway testing.

While at sea off the Virginia coast, the crew, in cooperation with NNS engineers and shipyard employees, will run through a comprehensive sequence of evolutions to test and validate systems maintained or modified during the extended maintenance period, known as a Post Shakedown Availability (PSA). 

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 27, 2019) An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Dragonslayers of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11 flies by USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). Ford is conducting sea trials following its 15 month post-shakedown availability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Connor Loessin)

The PSA included combat systems installations, throttle control system improvements, propulsion train component repairs, and corrections to discrepancies identified during prior testing, and completion of 304 berthing spaces. The HII-NNS team also completed construction of four advanced weapon elevators (AWE), upgraded advanced arresting gear (AAG) water twisters, and fully outfitted all galley spaces. 

“After a challenging post-shakedown availability at Newport News Shipbuilding, the crew is excited to turn their hardhats in and get Warship 78 back out to sea. I am extremely proud of our Sailors and the remarkable work ethic they have demonstrated over the last 15 months. It is their energy, enthusiasm and grit that has gotten our ship to this point, and it will be their motivation and resiliency that will fuel our success during post-delivery test and trial.”


Capt. J.J. Cummings, Ford’s commanding officer

Sea trials are the culminating event prior CVN 78’s ship returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.  The ship will then enter a postdelivery test and trials period to certify fuel systems, conduct aircraft compatibility testing, certify the flight deck, and test the combat systems installed aboard the ship.

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 27, 2019) USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) steams in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time since July 2018. Ford is conducting sea trials following its 15 month post-shakedown availability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Connor Loessin)

As a first-in-class ship,the U.S. Navy is actively incorporating lessons learned from CVN 78 to improve the design and construction processes of future ships in the class.  

Ford-class carriers will provide unparalleled advances in operational availability and flexibility to accommodate high power/energy warfighting advances, increased sortie generation, and improved survivability to defeat projected threats. With these advances, the Ford-class will be a vital asset to the U.S. National Defense Strategy in providing combat-credible naval forces to engage competitors, deter adversaries and protect U.S. security interests globally.

Aircraft Carrier CVN 78 Huntington Ingalls Industries US Navy USS Gerald R. Ford 2019-10-28
Tags Aircraft Carrier CVN 78 Huntington Ingalls Industries US Navy USS Gerald R. Ford
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Authors

Posted by : Xavier Vavasseur
Xavier is based in Paris, France. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems and a Master of Business Administration from Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). Xavier has been covering naval defense topics for nearly a decade.

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  1. Pingback : CVN 78 Completed a Record 167 Aircraft Launches & Recoveries in a Single Day - Naval News

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