*Source: DTN News / Northrop Grumman Corporation
(NSI News Source Info) NEWPORT NEWS, Va., - July 14, 2009: Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) redelivered the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), to the U.S. Navy July 11. The redelivery follows the completion of a successful three-and-a-half-year evolution known as a refueling and complex overhaul. 
USS Carl Vinson is the third in the series of NIMITZ-class aircraft carriers to enter the navy fleet. USS Carl Vinson was commissioned on March 13, 1982 and was constructed by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Va. USS Carl Vinson was named after the late Georgia Congressman Carl Vinson, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than 50 years (1914-1965).
After extensive workups and training, the ship and its crew of close to 6,000 officers and enlisted personnel departed Norfolk, Va., on March 1, 1983, and embarked on an eight-month, around-the-world deployment.
On October 29, 1983, Carl Vinson sailed into San Francisco Bay for a three-month upgrade and repair. She was based in the SF Bay area until she left for her new home in Bremerton Washington.
Carl Vinson sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge for the last time on January 14th 1997. As part of the move, the ship conducted a "Noah's Ark," wherein about 100 family members, 60 guests, 900 cars and even three cats enjoyed the three day transit to Bremerton. Capt David M. Crocker assumed command of Carl Vinson on January 29th. The 100,000-ton nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has performed exempelary service throughout its deployment.
The project was performed by the company's Shipbuilding sector in Newport News, Va. and was completed within budget.
Redelivery also follows successful sea trials. Sea trials are conducted to test systems, components and demonstrate operations at sea. The trials also include high-speed runs and a demonstration of the carrier's other capabilities.
"The redelivery of the Carl Vinson is testimony to the tremendous teamwork between our crew, the Northrop Grumman workers, and the Supervisor of Shipbuilding," said Rear Adm. (select) Ted Carter, who was the Commanding Officer of USS Carl Vinson during the last two and a half years of the RCOH project. "Without that triad of effort, I would not be able to tell you of all the great work accomplished during the overhaul period, which resulted in our ship returning to sea as one of the most advanced ships in the world."
The refueling and complex overhaul is performed only once in a carrier's 50-year life and includes extensive modernization work to more than 2,300 compartments, hundreds of system upgrades, and over 20 million man-hours of work, to include defueling and refueling the nuclear reactors.
"The success of this project reflects the approach and relationship that this team has had for the past three and a half years -- One Team, One Goal, One Mission. We collectively could not have been successful without the talent, dedication and teamwork of our shipbuilders, CVN 70 crew members, Supship and Navsea personnel and our suppliers," said Jim Hughes, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's vice president of aircraft carrier overhauls. "We've come together to bring CVN 70 back to life for another 25 years of service, and we did it within budget despite many challenges encountered along the way. This great achievement demonstrates our commitment to work with the Navy to deliver the best products back to the fleet while making sure we meet our cost requirements and improved financial predictability."
USS Carl Vinson is the third ship of the Nimitz class to undergo this major life-cycle milestone. The carrier arrived in Newport News on Nov. 11, 2005, and more than 3,500 Northrop Grumman employees worked on the project during peak periods.
Named for former U.S. Rep. Carl Vinson, the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) was built in Newport News, Va. by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding and was christened in 1980. The congressman attended the christening ceremony at age 96 and became the first living American to have a Navy ship named in his honor. The ship was commissioned by the Navy in 1982.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.
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