The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) arrived at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete on 23 March 2026 to undergo maintenance and repairs after operating in the Red Sea.
The docking follows a fire that broke out on board the aircraft carrier earlier this month.
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US Naval Forces Central Command/US 5th Fleet reported that the fire started in the main laundry area of the ship on 12 March while it was participating in Operation Epic Fury in the Red Sea.
The incident was not related to combat and was “contained” by crew members.
According to reporting from The Guardian, sailors sustained injuries and approximately 100 beds were destroyed as a result of the fire.
The USS Gerald R. Ford is designed to accommodate up to 4,660 sailors, according to information from HII.
During its time in Crete, the carrier will undergo assessment, repairs, and resupply.
According to a statement from the US Navy on 23 March 2026, the aircraft carrier remains “fully mission capable”.
Commissioned in July 2017, the USS Gerald R. Ford is the first ship of its class and incorporates various upgrades, including an advanced flight deck, new launch and recovery systems, increased electrical capacity, and equipment designed to support extended operations at sea.
According to preliminary reports from the Sortie Generation Rate test programme, these systems such as the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and advanced arresting gear (AAG) have contributed to a higher sortie generation rate than previous Nimitz-class carriers.
The carrier holds up to 90 aircraft, including F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft, EA-18G Growler electronic attack planes, MH-60R/S helicopters, and unmanned vehicles.
Recently, USS Gerald R. Ford made a port call at Souda Bay for routine resupply operations.
