Overview
- The carrier arrived in Bremerton, Washington, on Dec. 16 after nearly nine months at sea, concluding what may be its last return to its homeport.
- The Navy has directed the ship to depart Naval Base Kitsap early next year for a transit around the Strait of Magellan and Cape Horn to Naval Station Norfolk before May 2026.
- Upon arrival on the East Coast, the vessel is slated to be decommissioned, defueled and deactivated, with disposal to follow according to Navy procedures.
- During the final deployment, Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing 17 completed more than 8,500 sorties and 17,000 flight hours across the Indo‑Pacific and Middle East, including four Strait of Hormuz transits and port visits in Bahrain, Oman and the UAE.
- The cruise included a missing sailor case in Guam and two aircraft lost in the South China Sea on Oct. 26 with all crew rescued and the wreckage recovered in early December, while the Ford‑class carriers are set to assume Nimitz’s role with USS John F. Kennedy expected to take its Bremerton berth.