America’s $13billion aircraft carrier has been sidelined from operations in the Iran conflict after a string of onboard failures, from eco-friendly toilets that fail to flush to a fire that tore through parts of the ship.
The USS Gerald R Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the world and the most expensive warship ever built by the US, could be forced out of action for up to a year, according to the New York Post.
The 1,106-foot vessel left the Red Sea and is now docked in Crete for repairs after being pulled from the conflict just two weeks after joining operations against Iran.
The vessel has been plagued by issues for years, including persistent problems with its sanitation system dating back to at least 2020. Frequent clogs and repairs have cost at least $4million.
‘Those eco-friendly toilets are not pressurized in the same way. They don’t flush through,’ naval expert Steve Wills told the outlet.
The problems stem from the ship’s vacuum collection, holding and transfer system, a high-tech design adapted from the cruise ship industry that has required constant maintenance.
A 2020 Government Accountability Office report found the system required ‘onerous’ day-to-day maintenance, with each so-called ‘acid flush’ costing about $400,000.
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine raised concerns earlier this month about the ship’s ‘persistent sewage system failures and inoperable laundry facilities’ following its extended deployment.
America’s $13billion USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier has been pulled from operations in the Iran conflict after a series of failures, including faulty toilets, sewage issues and a fire that damaged living areas
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not publicly commented on the reported issues aboard the USS Gerald R Ford
The carrier had been operating in the Middle East in support of US efforts against Iran before it was pulled from service.
Kaine warned the situation was taking a toll on the crew, writing to Navy Secretary John Phelan: ‘I am deeply concerned about the compounding mental and physical toll this long deployment and uncertainty is taking on our Sailors.’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not publicly commented on the reported issues aboard the USS Gerald R Ford.
He added that sailors and their families were being pushed ‘to a breaking point’ by an unpredictable schedule and a ship that, despite its $13billion price tag, was failing to meet basic living standards.
The carrier operates as a ‘floating city’ with a crew of roughly 4,500 sailors.
According to the report, the Navy installed a new toilet and sewage system similar to those used on commercial aircraft but scaled up for a crew of more than 4,000.
The ship was also hit by a fire on March 12 in a laundry area, which filled multiple sections with smoke, damaged berthing spaces and left some living quarters unusable.
Smoke is believed to have spread through the ship’s air circulation system, contaminating mattresses and linens and rendering some areas virtually unlivable.
The damage was so severe that helicopters were used to transport laundry to other ships after onboard facilities were knocked out.
Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed said the fallout was severe, with hundreds of sailors forced to sleep on the floor for days.
‘I’m told that there are 400 sailors that spent many days sleeping on the floor,’ Reed said. ‘It’s been at sea now for almost a year, so that is an incredible stress on the whole crew.’
The warship has been deployed for around nine months, adding to concerns about strain on personnel.
The Navy’s 6th Fleet said the carrier remains ‘fully mission capable’ and will undergo assessment, repairs and resupply, though no timeline has been given.
An investigation into the fire is now underway.
Meanwhile, the USS George H W Bush carrier strike group is heading toward the Mediterranean to support operations, though it uses a similar sanitation system.
The Ford arrived at the Port of Split in Croatia on Saturday, according to the Navy.
The Daily Mail has contacted the Navy for comment.
