SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan returned to its home port of Coronado Thursday following more than one year of major maintenance in Bremerton, Washington.
The Navy said the 1,092-foot vessel and its crew of 2,500 spent 14 months at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. Many of the sailors brought their families with them to Washington state, but around 600 left their loved ones behind in San Diego.
"Completing an availability such as this ensures that Ronald Reagan will reach her 50-year life span," ship Commanding Officer Capt. Thom Burke said. "There's a lot of work and a lot of planning that goes into maintaining these combat vessels, and the last year was a major step in ensuring we're ready to successfully operate at sea when our country calls upon us."
Aircraft carriers generally undergo major maintenance every eight to 10 years. The captain said the work ensures that the vessels complete their planned 50-year lifespan.
The Reagan was launched in 2001.