The “Carrier Refueling Overhaul Workcenter” at Newport News will provide sailors with an alternative workspace during carriers’ RCOH periods—a welcome change to working in a construction zone.

The United States Navy and Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS) celebrated the opening of a new facility that will aid in the refueling of the sea service’s nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The largest American shipbuilder and the US Navy held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week at the facilities in Newport News, Virginia, where the nation’s flattops undergo the mid-life refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH), a lengthy process that has been exceeding five years.

The new “Carrier Refueling Overhaul Workcenter” (CROW) will now provide nearly 80,000 square feet of dedicated space near the warships that are undergoing an RCOH. This will include office space, a fitness center, recreational areas, a counseling officer, and other facilities sailors can use while their ship is undergoing maintenance.

“This new facility, designed to serve sailors—and benefit shipbuilders as well—is a shining example of what teamwork can do,” NNS President Kari Wilkinson said at the ceremony. “We are grateful for the tenacity with which this project was envisioned, pursued and executed, and we are honored to celebrate its opening.”

Aircraft Carrier RCOH Periods Aren’t Easy for Sailors

The RCOH period, during which an aircraft carrier’s nuclear fuel is replaced and other significant maintenance performed, is necessary for all of the US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. However, the extended work requires that the vessels be sidelined far longer than other maintenance periods. Work was originally slated to take three to five years, but has increased with each vessel due to workforce and material shortages, as well as the service facing “growth work” discovered during inspections. Moreover, new technology has required massive maintenance and upgrades, stretching out the time by years. During the RCOH, sailors generally either remain aboard the carrier undergoing maintenance or live on remote barges with few creature comforts and little access to mental health facilities. 

This has become a growing problem as RCOH periods have grown longer. The RCOH for the sixth Nimitz-class carrier, the USS George Washington (CVN-73), took nearly six years, with the crew forced to live on what amounted to an active construction site during that time. These conditions took a heavy toll on the crew, and nine sailors killed themselves during the overhaul, prompting the Navy to launch an investigation and promise reforms.

In mid-June, the US Navy also announced that fewer sailors would be involved in the multi-year maintenance process. Contractors would instead take over many of the duties that previously involved the crew. Although some sailors will still need to take part in the RCOH process, many will be able to take on other training for part of the time their ship is sidelined.

Those who are part of the team working on the refit and refueling will now have access to the CROW facility during the process.

“The RCOH facility directly supports Admiral Caudle’s ‘Sailors First’ vision for the Navy,” said Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Kilby. “It is our obligation to our Sailors and the employees at this shipyard to keep improving and striving to deliver the best Quality of Service. This facility provides our Sailors and shipyard partners with a dedicated, modern space outside of the heavy industrial environment to build Sailors’ well-being and warfighting readiness.”

The Navy Wants to Make Life Easier for Sailors on RCOH Ships

The CROW is just one of several quality of service (QoS) efforts now underway.

“We identified a clear need to improve the quality of service for our RCOH Sailors here in Newport News, and the CROW is us delivering on that promise,” said Capt. Hannah Kriewaldt, Commanding Officer, supervisor of Shipbuilding Newport News. “This facility ensures that Sailors and shipbuilders performing the heavy lifting to maintain our fleet have the professional workspace, wellness resources, and support they deserve.”

Beyond the new facility, the US Navy will continue to work with the shipbuilder and Newport News city officials to improve the QoS. That will include better parking options for those who make a daily commute, as well as after-hours dining and recreation options.

The USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) is now completing its RCOH in Newport News, and current plans call for the warship to be returned to the fleet in late 2026. 

The eighth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), was expected to begin the process in June, and the work will likely sideline the carrier for about four and a half years until January 2031. The warship suffered structural damage above the waterline following a collision in early 2025 with the Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier M/V Besiktas-M in the Mediterranean Sea near Port Said, Egypt.

Two other Nimitz-class nuclear-powered carriers—the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)—will also eventually need to undergo a midlife RCOH. CVN-76 is expected to begin its refueling in 2029, with CVN-77 to follow around 2032.

Crucially, the process will not be required with the Gerald R. Ford-class supercarriers, as the flattops are powered by the newly designed A1B nuclear reactors that can operate for the entirety of the 50-year lifespan without needing to be refueled. Of course, as other maintenance is still required and upgrades are likely, the Carrier Refueling Overhaul Workcenter will likely find new uses beyond the late 2030s after CVN-77 is refueled—but the agonizing five-year RCOH process may be nearing its end.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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