US carrier Ford arrives in Croatia for repairs after fire [View all]

Source: The Independent

Saturday 28 March 2026 07:20 EDT


The USS Gerald R. Ford, the United States' newest and largest aircraft carrier, has anchored in Croatia's Adriatic port of Split on Saturday for essential repairs and maintenance. Its arrival follows a nine-month deployment that included U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran and missions in the Red Sea.

The warship's stop comes after a non-combat fire erupted in its main laundry room on 12 March, while it was operating in the Red Sea as part of Operation Epic Fury. Three sailors were injured and nearly 200 others were treated for smoke inhalation, a US official stated. The blaze, which took hours to control, also affected approximately 100 sleeping berths. The carrier had also participated in operations against Venezuela in the Caribbean prior to its Middle East deployment.

It has been plagued by plumbing problems during its deployment, affecting the nearly 650 toilets.

The Ford had temporarily stopped at Souda Bay on the Greek island ​of Crete. The government of Croatia, which is a NATO-ally of the U.S., approved its arrival earlier this week.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/carrier-ford-croatia-hit-repairs-b2947560.html

---

REFERENCE - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143634731

So the carrier went a further 1000 or so miles further north from Crete (which earlier stories claimed would be where repairs were to be made), and sailed all the way to Croatia. Looks like it's done with engagements.