USS Carl Vinson Restores Island Lighting

The USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), one of the nation's nuclear powered aircraft carriers, reports that as part of its overhaul and in preparation for the holiday season it has restored its island lights.

Nuclear powered ships like the Vinson can operate for 25 years without refueling; however, when refueling is necessary, the ship is taken to port and undergoes an elaborate overhaul process that takes two years. The Carl Vinson is currently doing that. The overhaul is called RCOH, for refueling and complex overhaul.

The ship is now at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard, in Virginia.

Commanding Officer Captain Ted Carter proudly congratulated his crew in a ceremony held on the flight deck of the carrier.

"We are all thrilled for what this represents to the Carl Vinson Team. These new lights on our island remind us all that USS Carl Vinson is coming back to life."

The ship's number, 70, was outlined in lights, as part of the "Gold Eagle" island restoration project.

On hand for the ceremonies was Electrician's Mate 2^nd Class (SW) Tha-Hash Long, one of the project team members, who helped to restore the lights in an intensive two week work period designed to get the job done before the holiday season. All of the Sailors on board are working hard to get the ship operational again, back at sea.

The Carl Vinson is a Nimitz class carrier.

Its nuclear power frees it from reliance on oil to power its engines. A large ship like the Vinson would require constant refueling. For example, the forward deployed and much smaller ship, USS Fitzgerald, a destroyer, needs refueling about every three days, compared to the Vinson's once every 25 years.

Now the Carl Vinson is in dry dock. Her flight deck is covered with equipment used in her restorations, and portable storage units that house the tools and other items needed run in two parallel columns almost the entire length of the deck. Large cranes frame her structure, sitting on the dock. The ship's massive flight deck overhangs much of the dock, shading the areas below. Workers swarm the deck and the miles of passages below, systematically updating the ship so that when it is back at sea it will be the most up to date, modern and deadly craft the Navy has, until another ship completes its updates in the never ending cycle that ships go through.

While the ship is in port, many of her Sailors have volunteered to join the battle overseas with other ships or units serving on shore. Many will return to the Vinson when she redeploys.

Vinson Lights Restored, USN, MC3(SW) Stephen Tate