The initial stage of decommissioning and inactivation of the American nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz will cost $562 million. This was reported by UNN with reference to the publication 19FortyFive and materials from the US Navy.
It is known that the ship has already arrived at the Norfolk Naval Base, which will become its final home port, and official decommissioning from the fleet is scheduled for March 2027.
Details
According to the US Navy's plan for fiscal year 2027, the allocated funds will cover only the initial phase of work. It includes shutting down the ship's main systems, dismantling equipment, draining technical fluids, demilitarizing secret compartments, and preparing two nuclear reactors for fuel unloading.
The full process of dismantling the ship will take many years.
What you need to know about the oldest US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
The aircraft carrier Nimitz has a length of over 330 meters and a displacement of about 100,000 tons. Unlike conventional warships, which are sent for commercial recycling after dismantling weapons and removing fuel, the disposal of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier requires the involvement of nuclear safety specialists, compliance with radiological control, and the use of special methods for reactor disposal.
The removal of spent nuclear fuel will be carried out under the control of the US Naval Reactors Program. It will be loaded into special M-290 containers and transported to a facility in Idaho. After that, the reactor compartments will be sealed and prepared for transportation to a special storage facility.
The US Navy notes that the aircraft carrier will be inactivated after 52 years of service. Despite the planned decommissioning in 2027, the military department's budget provides for 600 military positions until 2030 to ensure work on the final disposal of the ship.