USS George Washington ( CVN - 73 ) USS " George Washington " ( CVN - 73 ) is an American nuclear - powered supercarrier , the sixth ship in the " Nimitz " class and the fourth United States Navy ship to be named after George Washington , the first President of the United States . It was built by Newport News Shipbuilding and was commissioned 4 July 1992 . Description . " George Washington " ( commonly known as " GW " ) is 1 , 092 ft ( 333 m ) long , 257 ft ( 78 m ) wide and 244 feet ( 74 m ) high . The super carrier can accommodate approximately 80 aircraft and has a flight deck 4 . 5 acres ( 18 , 000 m² ) in size , using four elevators that are 3 , 880 ft² ( 360 m² ) each to move planes between the flight deck and the hangar bay . With a combat load , " GW " displaces almost and can accommodate 6 , 250 crewmembers . Its four distilling units can make 400 , 000 U . S . gallons ( 1 , 500 , 000 L ) of potable water a day ; its food service divisions serve 18 , 000 meals per day . There are over 2 , 500 compartments on board requiring 2 , 520 refrigeration ton s ( 8 . 6 MW ) of air conditioning capacity ( enough to cool over 2 , 000 homes ) . The warship uses two Mark II stockless anchors that weigh 30 tons each , with each link of the anchor chain weighing 360 pounds ( 160 kg ) . It is currently equipped with two 20 mm Phalanx CIWS mounts and two Sea Sparrow SAM launchers . One CIWS and one Sea Sparrow mount were removed to make way for two RIM - 116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers , installed during the 2005 Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability ( DPIA ) . Traditionally , U . S . Navy aircraft carrier hangar bays were painted Navy Gray ; " George Washington " was commissioned with its hangar bay bulkheads and overhead painted white , to make the hangar bay appear larger and brighter . Since then , all U . S . carriers have followed suit . All U . S . Navy aircraft carriers have their hull number painted on both sides of their island structure for identification . General Washington had long been a proponent of a strong Navy . On 15 November 1781 he wrote , " Without a decisive Naval force , we can do nothing decisive . And with it , everything honourable and decisive " . These words are engraved on a plaque on the ship ' s quarterdeck . Propulsion . Two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors are used for propulsion ( the ship is capable of steaming more than three million nautical miles before refueling ) turning 4 five - bladed screws that weigh 66 , 220 pounds ( 30 , 040 kg ) each , driving the ship at speeds over 30 knots ( 56 km / h ) . History . The contract for " George Washington " was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding on 27 December 1982 . The keel was laid on 25 August 1986 , it was christened 21 July 1990 by then – First Lady Barbara Bush , and was commissioned at Naval Station Norfolk on 4 July 1992 . Fourth deployment , 2000 . On its fourth deployment from 21 June 2000 to 19 December 2000 , " George Washington " spent a large portion of the six - month deployment in the Persian Gulf as part of the U . S . military presence there . 2001 . On 13 February , " George Washington " began a six - month Planned Incremental Availability ( PIA ) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard . The ship received upgrades to many ship systems , including berthing spaces , ventilation systems , and computer networking . On 31 July the ship began four days of sea trials before returning to homeport in preparation for workups for a planned 2002 deployment . On the morning of 11 September , " George Washington " was operating off the coast of Virginia conducting routine carrier qualifications when the 11 September attacks took place . It was diverted north and arrived in New York City just hours after the attacks . Fifth deployment , 2002 . The " George Washington " Battle Group deployed on 20 June 2002 and headed for the North Arabian Sea where it relieved the Battle Group on 19 July . In December 2002 , " George Washington " was relieved by the Battle Group in the Persian Gulf , where " George Washington " had been supporting Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom . 2003 . On 23 June " George Washington " was presented with the 2002 Battenberg Cup . It was the third time the ship had won the prestigious award . On 11 September while the ship was operating off the coast of Virginia , an arresting wire parted while an F / A - 18 was landing . As the wire parted , it snapped back violently across the deck , injuring eleven crewmen , two critically ( the wire nearly hit an additional crew member but he jumped above the wire in time ) . The sailors , who were part of the ship ' s company , VAW - 120 and VFA - 106 had to be medically evacuated from the ship but all survived the mishap . The aircraft was lost over the side but the pilot was able to eject safely . Footage of the mishap was later used in a National Geographic special about the ship that was being filmed at the time . " GW " returned to Norfolk , Va . , 19 December 2003 after 40 days at sea , where it successfully completed her Composite Training Unit Exercise ( COMPTUEX ) . The GWSTRKGRU was composed of Destroyer Squadron 28 and Carrier Air Wing 7 ( CVW - 7 ) , , , , , and . The exercise involved more than 7 , 600 sailors operating off the coasts of Virginia , North Carolina , Georgia and Florida . Having completed this final phase of the training cycle , the strike group assumed surge status and is fully qualified to deploy . Sixth deployment , 2004 . The Navy announced on 13 January 2004 that the " George Washington " Carrier Strike Group would depart for a " surge " deployment a week later . On 20 January " GW " , with CVW - 3 embarked , deployed in support of the global war on terrorism . " George Washington " made a port visit at Souda Bay , Crete beginning on 6 February through 10 February 2004 . On 16 February , " George Washington " transited the Suez Canal and entered the Red Sea on 17 February . On 20 February " George Washington " entered the Gulf of Aden and a week later was conducting operations in the Persian Gulf . On 13 March the ship made the first of three port visits to Jebel Ali , United Arab Emirates . On 8 April , F / A - 18 Hornet s from Carrier Air Wing Seven participated in Operation Vigilant Resolve . One of the Naval Air Station Oceana - based “ Wildcats ” from Strike Fighter Squadron 131 ( VFA - 131 ) conducted a 20 mm strafing run against an enemy position . Another VFA - 131 Hornet dropped two 500 pound GBU - 12 laser - guided bombs on another enemy position in Fallujah , Iraq , on 9 April . This was the first live ordnance dropped by CVW - 7 aircraft since " George Washington " deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom . After being relieved by the , the ship began her transit home , making a final port visit at Naples , Italy from 14 – 18 July . After traveling more than and spending six months at sea , " George Washington " completed its sixth Mediterranean and Persian Gulf deployment and returned to Norfolk on 26 July . 2005 . On 28 January 2005 the ship entered shipyard for Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability ( DPIA ) . Many ship ' s systems were upgraded and maintenance was done to the hull . The ship ' s four jet blast deflector s were removed and upgraded to handle the increased heat generated by the F / A - 18E / F Super Hornet . The ship ' s defensive weapons configuration was also altered , as one Phalanx CIWS mount and one Sea Sparrow launcher were removed and replaced with two Rolling Airframe Missile launchers . During the 11 months the ship was drydocked , the crew contributed 20 , 000 hours of volunteer community service to the city of Newport News . The availability was completed on schedule , and " George Washington " returned to her Norfolk homeport on 17 December 2005 . On 1 December 2005 , the United States Navy announced that " George Washington " would replace as the forward - deployed carrier at Yokosuka Naval Base in Yokosuka , Japan , becoming the first nuclear - powered surface warship permanently stationed outside the continental U . S . In an attempt to explain the carrier ' s mission to the Japanese public , the U . S . Navy printed a manga about life aboard GW , titled " CVN - 73 " . 2006 . " GW " and CVW - 17 left Norfolk on 4 April for a scheduled two - month deployment to operate as part of SOUTHCOM ' s " Partnership of the Americas " . This deployment included counter - drug operations in the Caribbean Sea , crew exchanges and exercises with Latin American and South American navies , and port visits for the carrier and strike group , which consisted of , , and . The first of these port visits took place from 14 – 17 April in St . Maarten , and Antigua from 15 – 18 May . " GW " returned to Norfolk on 24 May . 2008 . On 7 April 2008 " George Washington " , with CVW - 17 and Carrier Strike Group 8 embarked , departed Norfolk , VA for the transit around South America where performed Gringo - Gaucho with the Argentine Naval Aviation , en route to Yokosuka , Japan to replace USS " Kitty Hawk " . After the planned turnover with " Kitty Hawk " at NS Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , CVW - 17 and Carrier Strike Group Eight were to return to their home ports in the U . S . to be replaced by Carrier Air Wing 5 , based at Naval Air Facility Atsugi , and Carrier Strike Group Five based at Yokosuka Naval Base in Yokosuka , Japan . Transit and fire . During the South American transit , the Washington Battle Group participated in U . S . Southern Command exercises Partnership of the Americas and Unitas , a joint military exercise between the United States , Brazilian and Argentine navies . On 22 April 2008 , " George Washington " arrived in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , for her first port visit to that country . The ship transited the Strait of Magellan on 9 – 10 May . On 22 May 2008 , while the ship was off the Pacific Coast of South America , a fire occurred that injured 37 sailors . There were no fatalities . The Navy defined the incident as " serious " . According to a statement from Naval Air Forces ' public affairs office , the fire broke out in the ship ' s air - conditioning and refrigeration space and an auxiliary boiler room . The fire spread via a cableway and ventilation ducting and caused extreme heat in some parts of the ship . It took over twelve hours for the ship ' s crew to contain and extinguish the fire . It was one of the largest non - combat fires aboard a U . S . Naval vessel since the devastating fire on board the in 1967 . On 27 May , " George Washington " stopped at NAS North Island in San Diego , California for repairs . On 20 June , the Navy announced that the damage from the fire was more serious than previously thought , and that repairs would take at least until August and would cost $ 70 million . It was announced that the turnover with " Kitty Hawk " was postponed and would take place in San Diego instead of Hawaii . On 13 July , 13 , 000 Japanese protested in Yokosuka against the basing of " George Washington " in Japan , saying that the onboard fire showed that the nuclear - powered carrier was unsafe . The U . S . Navy said that Rear Admiral James Kelly , commander of U . S . Naval Forces Japan , would meet with Yokosuka Mayor Ryoichi Kabaya to fully explain the fire and what preventive measures the Navy would take . A Navy investigation found that the fire was " entirely preventable " and was caused by unauthorized smoking in a room where of flammable refrigerant compressor oil was improperly stored . The room was near the aft auxiliary boiler . The ship ' s damage control team took nearly eight hours to discover the source of the smoke and flames . By that time , the fire had spread to eight decks and 80 compartments and destroyed miles of electrical and fiber - optic cables . The damage control department had been found deficient in three inspections between June 2007 and April 2008 . Although the carrier ' s commanding officer started a program to remedy the team ' s training and performance in the month before the fire , the report concluded those efforts were insufficient . Admiral Robert Wilard noted in his investigation , " It is apparent from this extensive study that there were numerous processes and procedures related to fire prevention and readiness and training that were not properly functioning . The extent of damage could have been reduced had numerous longstanding firefighting and firefighting management deficiencies been corrected . " Overall , however , investigators praised the carrier ' s firefighters , especially the brave sailors who rescued four of their shipmates who were trapped in a room behind a wall of flames . “ Many crew members . . . displayed courage and resolve in fighting the fires , ” Willard said . “ Their actions exemplify our Navy core values of honor , courage and commitment . ” On 30 July 2008 Admiral Robert F . Willard , commander of the U . S . Pacific Fleet , announced that Captain David C . Dykhoff had been relieved of his duties as Commanding Officer citing " a loss of confidence in his ability to command and his failure to meet mission requirements and readiness standards . " Executive Officer Captain David M . Dober was also relieved for " substandard performance . " Six other sailors were disciplined with non - judicial punishment . Four sailors were found guilty of violating a lawful order and hiding hazardous materials in direct violation of safety regulations . Two non - commissioned officers were found guilty of negligence and dereliction of duty for not properly supervising the workspace . The Navy ' s Pacific Fleet refused to name the enlisted sailors disciplined . The Navy and Marine Corps Medal was later awarded to Senior Chief Petty Officer Keith Hendrickson for leading a team that rescued four shipmates trapped by the fire deep in the interior of the ship . On 21 August , under new skipper Captain J . R . Haley and executive officer Captain Karl O . Thomas , " George Washington " departed NAS North Island for Japan , with Carrier Air Wing Five ( CVW 5 ) embarked . The carrier arrived at Yokosuka , Japan on 25 September 2008 . Several hundred local proponents and protesters greeted the ship ' s arrival . The ship sailed to Korea on 1 October and participated in that country ' s International Fleet Review . Afterwards , the carrier , accompanied by cruiser " Cowpens " and destroyer " John S . McCain " traveled to Guam , arriving on 31 October 2008 . The " George Washington " Carrier Strike Group returned to Japan 21 November . 2009 . In June 2009 the Navy revealed that 15 of the carrier ' s sailors were being expelled from the service for use of illegal designer drug s . On 2 July 2009 " George Washington " , accompanied by USS " Cowpens " , anchored on Perth ' s Gage Roads . " GW " sailors visited Fremantle and the state capital Perth . Crew members volunteered to complete community projects including cleaning , maintenance , and painting at organizations including PMH , a Salvation Army rehabilitation center , Perth Zoo and Cohunu Koala Park . During mid - July , the ship was involved in Operation Talisman Sabre , off the coast of the Northern Territory , Australia . From 2 to 6 August 2009 , " GW " made a port call in Singapore where sailors enjoyed some R & R and participated in community relation projects such as painting and landscaping at a local community center , children ' s center , special education school and an association for the disabled . The ship made a 4 - day goodwill visit to Manila Bay , Philippines , anchoring off historic Corregidor Island from 11 to 15 August 2009 . In August 2009 , the " George Washington " participated in the Indonesian Fleet Review , during Sail Bunaken 2009 event , in North Sulawesi , Indonesia . The parade of warships and tall ships from 40 nations include five of which belong to the " George Washington " Carrier Strike Group including " George Washington " , , , , and . Carrier Airwing Five , currently embarked on " George Washington " , also participated with a multi - aircraft fly - by of the viewing station during the parade . The " George Washington " Carrier Strike Group returned to Japan 3 September for a maintenance upkeep period prior to her second fall patrol . 2010 . On 11 May 2010 , " George Washington " completed maintenance and refit and departed Yokosuka for trials . On 21 July 2010 , " George Washington " arrived in Busan , South Korea for a port visit and then participated in exercise " Invincible Spirit " in the Sea of Japan with the USAF , Republic of Korea Air Force and Republic of Korea Navy from 25 to 28 July 2010 . " Invincible Spirit " was staged to improve combined operations capability and as a show of deterrence following the ROKS Cheonan sinking . The exercise was conducted in the Sea of Japan to placate China ' s objections to military exercises being conducted in the Yellow Sea but due in part to those objections a second exercise , which would take place in the Yellow Sea on the west coast of North Korea , is being planned . On 8 August 2010 , " George Washington " arrived and stopped off of the coast of Da Nang City in the South China Sea to celebrate the 15th anniversary of normalization of Vietnam - US diplomatic relations . This is the first time a U . S . aircraft carrier has visited Vietnam since the Vietnam War . In November 2010 , the " George Washington " carrier group departed for planned exercises with the Republic of Korea Navy , partially in response to the shelling of Yeonpyeong and increased tension with North Korea . 2011 . This ship was one of several participating in disaster relief after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami . The " George Washington " , while docked for maintenance in Yokosuka , detected radiation from the Fukushima I nuclear accidents . It then was ordered to leave port before scheduled , with a smaller than normal crew , to avoid the radioactive plume . Because of the lack of crew , the warship was unable to continue to provide aid . While at sea , the carrier made two visits to United States Fleet Activities Sasebo to exchange crewmembers and take on maintenance equipment . The ship returned to its berth at Yokosuka on 20 April 2011 . A plan from Senator Tom Coburn calls for the decommissioning of " George Washington " in 2016 , before it begins its refueling and complex overhaul but after the carrier " Gerald R . Ford " enters service . After redeploying on another training cruise , a 25 September 2011 video from the carrier uploaded to YouTube became a viral hit . In the video , two flight deck crewmen are almost hit by a landing F / A - 18 , which is waved - off shortly before landing on the deck where the crewmen are walking . On 22 November 2011 , the " George Washington " returned to Japan to conclude the 2011 patrol of its area of responsibility . The patrol consisted of four port visits and two major exercises while cruising more than 50 , 000 nautical miles across the western Pacific Ocean . 2012 . During " George Washington " deployment , the aircraft carrier participated in joint training exercises with other service branches , and regional partners , visited three Asia - Pacific nations ( South Korea , Hong Kong , Malaysia ) to practice interoperability , and conducted dual carrier operations with USS " John C . Stennis " ( CVN - 74 ) . 2013 . As of 2 January 2013 , the " George Washington " was still in active service . On 8 February 2013 , the U . S . Department of Defense announced that the scheduled mid - life complex overhaul for the carrier will be postponed pending the resolution of the upcoming budget sequestration . This budget shortfall will not only affect the " Lincoln " s refueling of her nuclear propulsion plant , but it will also delay the next scheduled mid - life complex overhaul involving the " George Washington " forward - based in Yokosuka , Japan , as well as the de - fueling of the recently deactivated . The ship and her support vessels visited Brisbane , Australia in July . The ship moored Oct 4th 2013 in Busan , South Korea for Liberty Port visit .