World’s First Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Decommissioned in US

The first US and world’s Enterprise (CVN 65) nuclear aircraft carrier has been decommissioned in Newport News, Virginia.

Following a decommissioning ceremony, two shipyard workers ride their bicycles by the the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier at Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va., on Friday, Feb. 3, 2017 (Photo: Kristen Zeis / The Virginian-Pilot via AP)

On February 3, a ceremony of an official decommission of the Enterprise (CVN 65) nuclear aircraft carrier was held in Newport News, Virginia, the BMPD blog reported. The vessel, which is considered to be the world’s first nuclear aircraft carrier, had nearly 55-year career.

USS Enterprise was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding Co. The vessel was floated out on September 24, 1960, and put into service in the US Navy on November 25, 1961. During its service, the aircraft carrier overcame more than 1 million nautical miles. The ship was removed from operational status on December 1, 2012.

On May 4, 2015, the Enterprise with removed weapons and electronic equipment arrived to the place of its building in the Newport News shipyard for unloading of its nuclear fuel (was completed in December 2016), deactivation of its power plant and partial dismantling of the equipment. Upon completion of these works, the vessel will be towed to Bremerton, Washington, on the Pacific coast, where its nuclear reactors will be removed in the Puget Sound Naval shipyard. After this, the nuclear reactors will be sent to the Hanford Site for burial. Then cutting of the aircraft carrier, which should be completed by 2025, will be begun in Bremerton. It is assumed that the island structure of the Enterprise will be saved in one of the American cities as a memorial.

The historical name of the ship will be inherited by a new nuclear aircraft carrier, the CVN 80 Enterprise – the third ship of the Gerald R. Ford type. Construction of the new Enterprise (the ninth ship in the US Navy with this name) will be started in the Newport News shipyard, the new vessel is planned to be ready in 2025. It is expected that some part of metal of the CVN 65’s hull will be symbolically used in the construction of the new Enterprise.

Capt. Todd A. Beltz, commanding officer, USS Enterprise (CVN 65), and Command Master Chief Dwayne Huff pose with the commissioning pennant during the Enterprise decommissioning ceremony (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tyler Preston / Released)