February 9, 2013
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - The Navy is postponing the overhaul of one of its nuclear-powered aircraft carriers because of budget concerns.
The USS Abraham Lincoln was set to leave Norfolk for a Newport News shipyard to begin the work next week. During an overhaul, complex maintenance and refueling are done to the carrier and its reactor plants to extend its life.
On Friday, the Navy said that it is short $1.5 billion to complete the work. The delay will cost the Navy an extra $10 million a month as its crew maintains the ship at its pier in Norfolk. An overhaul takes about four years to complete. The delay will have a ripple effect on other carriers' maintenance. The Japan-based USS George Washington is scheduled to start its overhaul once the Lincoln's is finished.
