HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division has completed acceptance sea trials for the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), the second Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
The carrier returned to the Newport News, Va., shipyard following at-sea testing and evaluation of its systems and components. The trials involved Newport News shipbuilders, the carrier’s crew and Navy personnel.
“It is an honor to take Kennedy to sea to demonstrate the quality work and commitment by our shipbuilders,” said Derek Murphy, Newport News Shipbuilding vice president of new construction aircraft carrier programs. “This critical set of sea trials is a testament to the entire nuclear shipbuilding enterprise and the work of thousands across our country to prepare CVN 79 to join the fleet.”
John F. Kennedy completed builder’s sea trials earlier this year. Acceptance trials are conducted by the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey to evaluate a ship’s readiness before delivery.
The next step is preliminary acceptance, which will allow the Navy to begin underway testing and evaluation of the carrier’s systems.
