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Planning begins on defueling of aircraft carrier

Planning for the defueling of the nuclear carrier USS George Washington is being undertaken by Newport News Shipbuilding.

By Richard Tomkins
USS George Washington. (U.S. Navy photo/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Brendan Morgan)
USS George Washington. (U.S. Navy photo/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Brendan Morgan)

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Newport News Shipbuilding is planning its work on defueling the aircraft carrier USS George Washington under a $49.6 million military contract.

The USS George Washington (CVN 73) is the sixth Nimitz-class carrier built by Newport News Shipbuilding and if approved could undergo a Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH).

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"We are pleased to be able to begin planning for the defueling of CVN 73," said Chris Miner, Newport News Shipbuilding's vice president, in-service aircraft carrier programs. "We hope this award is a first step toward the highly anticipated full award of the RCOH planning contract."

Planning for the defueling work will include engineering and shipboard inspections. It is for a period of one year.

Additional details of the contract awarded were not disclosed.

Newport News Shipbuilding is a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries.

The nuclear-powered USS George Washington was commissioned in 1992. It displaces more than 116,000 tons and is 1,092 feet long.

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