US Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Arrives in Croatia for Repairs After Fire in the Red Sea

The latest and largest aircraft carrier of the United States (US), USS Gerald R. Ford, which was withdrawn from the Iran war zone, finally anchored at the port of Split, Croatia, on Saturday (28/3). The arrival of this massive vessel is aimed at undergoing essential repairs and routine maintenance after completing a nine-month deployment in the Middle East conflict zone. This repair step was taken following a severe fire incident in the main laundry room while the ship was operating in the Red Sea on 12 March as part of Operation Epic Fury. US officials confirmed that the blaze, which lasted for several hours, injured three sailors, while nearly 200 other personnel required medical treatment due to smoke inhalation. In addition to damaging the laundry facilities, the fire also affected around 100 crew bunks. Not only the fire issue, this carrier carrying more than 5,000 sailors was also reported to have disruptions in its plumbing system, affecting operations of around 650 toilets on board. The Croatian government, as a NATO ally, has granted official permission for the USS Gerald R. Ford to dock after the ship had previously made a brief stop in Souda Bay, Greece. Before being deployed to the Red Sea area and involved in joint US-Israel operations against Iran, this aircraft carrier was also known to have carried out missions in the Caribbean. USS Gerald R. Ford is a floating air base that carries more than 75 military aircraft, including F-18 Super Hornet fighter jets, and is equipped with advanced radar systems for navigation and air traffic control.