The USS Gerald R. Ford, the United States’ newest and largest aircraft carrier, has anchored in Croatia’s Adriatic port of Split on Saturday for essential repairs and maintenance. Its arrival follows a nine-month deployment that included U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran and missions in the Red Sea.
The warship’s stop comes after a non-combat fire erupted in its main laundry room on 12 March, while it was operating in the Red Sea as part of Operation Epic Fury. Three sailors were injured and nearly 200 others were treated for smoke inhalation, a US official stated. The blaze, which took hours to control, also affected approximately 100 sleeping berths. The carrier had also participated in operations against Venezuela in the Caribbean prior to its Middle East deployment.
It has been plagued by plumbing problems during its deployment, affecting the nearly 650 toilets.
The Ford had temporarily stopped at Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete. The government of Croatia, which is a NATO-ally of the U.S., approved its arrival earlier this week.
“During its visit, the USS Gerald R. Ford will host local officials and key leaders to reaffirm the strong and enduring alliance between the United States and Croatia,” the U.S. embassy to Croatia said in a statement.
The carrier, staffed by more than 5,000 sailors, has more than 75 military aircraft aboard, including fighter aircraft like the F-18 Super Hornet, and boasts a sophisticated radar system for air traffic control and navigation.
