The U.S. Navy’s (US Navy) nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) arrived at Souda Bay Naval Base in Greece, where it will undergo repair work following the fire recorded days ago while operating in the Red Sea as part of Operation Epic Fury.
According to specialized media reports, the lead ship of the Ford class entered port to carry out focused maintenance work, mainly in the area affected by the incident, which implies its temporary withdrawal from the theater of operations in the Middle East.
The incident, which occurred on March 12, took place in one of the laundry compartments located in the aft section of the aircraft carrier. As a result, two sailors were affected, and there was a partial interruption of onboard activities due to the presence of smoke and damage caused in the affected area. U.S. authorities indicated that the fire was contained without spreading to other critical sections of the ship.
Repairs and operational pause
The arrival at Souda Bay marks the beginning of a repair phase that, according to reports, could last approximately one week. During this period, USS Gerald R. Ford will remain out of operations while technical inspections and restoration work are carried out on the affected systems. With this temporary withdrawal, the United States will be left with only the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) Carrier Strike Group operating in the Middle East while the military campaign against Iran continues. According to the latest reports, the ship is currently in the Arabian Sea.
It is important to mention that Souda Bay is a key logistical point for the U.S. Navy in the Mediterranean, being frequently used by naval units transiting toward the Middle East or in need of technical support, which facilitates rapid intervention on the ship. The last visit to this port had taken place more than a month ago, before the aircraft carrier began operating in the area of responsibility of U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM).
The temporary withdrawal from the area comes in a context of strong U.S. naval presence in the region, where a significant number of high-value U.S. Navy units continue operating, such as the aforementioned CVN-72 Carrier Strike Group. It should be recalled that CVN-78 had initially been deployed to the Caribbean under U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) in November 2025, before later being redirected to the Middle East as part of the U.S. military reinforcement in the conflict with Iran.
Lastly, the participation of USS Gerald R. Ford in Operation Epic Fury made it one of the campaign’s main naval assets, accumulating more than 260 days of continuous deployment, which has also raised questions about this factor as an element of operational strain on personnel.
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