USS George Washington Damage Assessment Nearly Complete Following Fire at Sea

SAN DIEGO (May 31, 2008) A fire aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) caused damage to the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration shop. George Washington is in San Diego for damage assessment and repairs following an at sea fire on May 22. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Phillip Pavlovich (Released)

SAN DIEGO (May 25, 2008) A fire aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington damaged electrical equipment in a space near the ventilation trunk for the auxiliary boiler. George Washington is in San Diego for damage assessment and repairs following the at sea fire on May 22, 2008. U.S. Navy photo (Released)

SAN DIEGO (May 25, 2008) A fire aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) caused cable damage in a shipboard training classroom. George Washington is in San Diego for damage assessment and repairs following an at sea fire on May 22. U.S. Navy photo (Released)

SAN DIEGO (May 29, 2008) A fire aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) damaged cables near the exhaust and supply ventilation trunk for the auxiliary boiler. George Washington is in San Diego for damage assessment and repairs following an at sea fire on May 22. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ted Green (Released)

SAN DIEGO (May 29, 2008) Mr. Curtis Wiles assess damage aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington is currently in San Diego for damage assessment and repairs following an at sea fire May 22, 2008. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Phillip Pavlovich (Released)

SAN DIEGO (May 29, 2008) Mr. Bret Haskins assess fire damage aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington is currently in San Diego for damage assessment and repairs following an at sea fire May 22, 2008. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Phillip Pavlovich (Released)

SAN DIEGO (May 29, 2008) Mr. Micheal Brown conducts an assessment of the fiber optic cable plan aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington is currently in San Diego for damage assessment and repairs following an at sea fire May 22, 2008. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Phillip Pavlovich (Released)

News in Balance:

SAN DIEGO, June 7, 2008 -- Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet released the following statement surrounding the damage assessment of the USS George Washington (CVN 73) following a fire at sea on Thursday, May 22:

Navy officials have nearly completed a comprehensive damage assessment following the shipboard fire aboard George Washington that occurred on May 22 while at sea. The source of the fire has not yet been determined, but the fire was located in a ventilation intake/exhaust trunk that led from the lower decks of the ship to a ventilation port on the ship's outer hull several decks above. In addition to providing a ventilation path for non-critical machinery components that are located below the ship's waterline, the trunk has numerous piping and cabling runs located within it.

Damage to USS George Washington is primarily electrical in nature with some associated structural and mechanical repairs required. Fire and heat affected electrical cabling and components running through approximately 80 spaces of the more than 3800 total spaces on the carrier. The heat generated by the fire damaged a small portion of interior structural plating which will require either repair or replacement. Piping and related valves that were exposed to heat from the fire have been inspected and will require a minimal amount of repairs. Electrical cables in the vicinity of the intake/exhaust trunk were damaged and will require repair and in some cases, replacement.

Personnel from Naval Sea Systems Command, Program Executive Officer - Carriers, Commander Naval Air Forces, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, Norfolk Naval Shipyard and the local private sector are involved in the assessment.

(From a Pacific Fleet Public Affairs news release.)

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