The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has left the Red Sea for Greece for repairs following a fire.
The US supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford has had to temporarily suspend its mission in the Red Sea to move to Greece to address the aftermath of a serious fire in its laundry area.
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is en route from the Red Sea to undergo repairs at a naval base on the Greek island of Crete. This decision was made after a fire broke out on the ship last week, significantly impacting its operational capabilities and the well-being of its crew.
Repair plan at Souda Bay base
According to Anadolu News and military sources, the world's largest aircraft carrier is expected to dock at Souda Bay Naval Support Base for technical work. A senior official from the U.S. Naval Institute told U.S. Naval Institute News that the repair process is expected to last more than a week.
The Greek newspaper Kathimerini also confirmed that the US aircraft carrier will return to Crete next week. Previously, in February, the ship docked at Souda Bay for four days for logistical resupply before heading into the Eastern Mediterranean.
Details of the fire and casualties.
The incident occurred on March 12th in the main laundry area located at the stern of the ship. Although the cause was determined to be unrelated to combat operations, the scale of the fire forced the crew to deploy a large-scale cleanup operation and evacuate several areas.
The incident caused major disruptions to life on board the ship:
- Casualties:Approximately 200 sailors received medical treatment for smoke inhalation when the fire broke out.
- Damage to infrastructure:The fire directly affected approximately 100 sleeping accommodations.
- Logistics:Over 600 soldiers lost their sleeping quarters, forcing them to rest temporarily on the floor and dining tables while waiting for repairs.
According to a report from the Times of Israel, firefighters on board the ship took many hours to completely bring the fire under control.
Deployment context in the Middle East
The USS Gerald R. Ford's departure from its operational position comes at a sensitive time, as the ship is deployed in the Middle East to address tensions related to Iran. The temporary absence of this supercarrier could impact the U.S. military presence in the region in the short term.
Confirming the incident on social media platform X, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated: "On March 12, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) experienced a fire originating in the ship's main laundry area. The cause of the fire was not combat-related and has been contained."
