BREMERTON — Rudder repairs on the USS Abraham Lincoln have led to a delay in getting the warship out of dry dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, but Navy officials said Thursday they still hope to have it return home to Everett on time.
The Lincoln left Naval Station Everett for repairs in late June. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier returned to Everett in early May from a record-setting 290-day deployment where it helped fight the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Shipyard officials had expected the nuclear-powered carrier to come out of dry dock a few weeks ago. But an unforeseen problem — fixing a broken rudder stem — means the ship probably will stay in dry dock through Feb. 13.
"We’ve had to do significant repairs that were not expected," said Navy Capt. John Clarke Orzalli, commander of the shipyard.
About 1,400 shipyard workers are involved in the $300 million rebuild. It’s the first time the 16-year-old Lincoln has been in Bremerton for extended repairs since October 2001.
Many have been working overtime to get the ship finished on schedule, and Orzalli recalled how employees who are football fans were asked to work Saturday so they could take Sunday off to watch the Super Bowl. People who didn’t want to watch the game worked for those who did.
"The attitude of the workforce, their drive, their commitment … is pretty impressive," Orzalli said.
The underside of the carrier’s hull also has to be repainted before the Lincoln can leave dry dock.
Ship spokesman Lt. Cmdr. John Daniels said he hoped work would be finished quickly, so the Lincoln could return to Everett.
"Starting next week, we’ll be floating on water, which is a good thing," he said.
Sailors on the Lincoln also are working overtime to help finish the job.
"We’re doing everything to get this ship out of here in the first week of May," Daniels said. "We’re really shooting to get his done. I honestly believe we’re going to make it."
Reporter Brian Kelly: 425-339-3422 or kelly@heraldnet.com.
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