Finance
US Carrier Ford Arrives in Croatia for Repairs
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 28, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 1, 2026
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The USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy’s newest and largest aircraft carrier, docked in Split, Croatia on March 28, 2026, for maintenance following a fire in its laundry space on March 12 that displaced over 100 bunks and caused smoke-related injuries among the crew. The carrier, now anchored in NATO
US Aircraft Carrier Gerald R. Ford in Split for Repairs and Maintenance
Arrival and Maintenance of the USS Gerald R. Ford in Croatia
Background of the Deployment
SPLIT, Croatia, March 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, which had been deployed in U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran, anchored in Croatia's Adriatic port of Split on Saturday for repairs and maintenance.
Recent Operations and Incident
The Ford, America's newest and the world's largest carrier, was operating in the Red Sea in support of Operation Epic Fury when a non-combat fire broke out in its main laundry room on March 12, injuring three sailors.
Impact of the Fire
Nearly 200 sailors were also treated for smoke-related issues, a U.S. official said at the time. The fire took hours to bring under control and had an impact on roughly 100 sleeping berths.
Previous Deployments and Technical Issues
The warship has been deployed for nine months and also took part in operations against Venezuela in the Caribbean prior to arriving in the Middle East.
It has been plagued by plumbing problems during its deployment, affecting the nearly 650 toilets.
Arrival in Croatia and Diplomatic Significance
The Ford had temporarily stopped at Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete. The government of Croatia, which is a NATO-ally of the U.S., approved its arrival earlier this week.
"During its visit, the USS Gerald R. Ford will host local officials and key leaders to reaffirm the strong and enduring alliance between the United States and Croatia," the U.S. embassy to Croatia said in a statement.
Capabilities and Crew of the USS Gerald R. Ford
The carrier, staffed by more than 5,000 sailors, has more than 75 military aircraft aboard, including fighter aircraft like the F-18 Super Hornet, and boasts a sophisticated radar system for air traffic control and navigation.
(Reporting by Antonio Bronic in Split; Writing by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Joe Bavier)
Key Takeaways
- •A non‑combat fire began in the main laundry on March 12, took over 30 hours to contain, damaged over 100 sleeping berths, and resulted in dozens of smoke‐inhalation cases even as the ship stayed mission‑capable (nationaltoday.com).
- •The USS Gerald R. Ford has also faced recurring plumbing and vacuum‑toilet system issues, with hundreds of breakdowns and costly maintenance operations throughout its nearly year‑long deployment (nationaltoday.com).
- •After a temporary stop in Souda Bay, Crete, the carrier arrived in Split, Croatia on March 28 for repairs. Its visit will include hosting local and NATO officials, underscoring enduring U.S.‑Croatia defense cooperation (reddit.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about US carrier Ford arrives in Croatia for repairs
1Why did the USS Gerald R. Ford anchor in Split, Croatia?
The USS Gerald R. Ford anchored in Split for repairs and maintenance after a non-combat fire broke out on board.
2What incident occurred on the US aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford?
A non-combat fire broke out in the ship's main laundry room, injuring three sailors and affecting about 100 sleeping berths.
3How many sailors were affected by the fire on Gerald R. Ford?
Three sailors were injured, and nearly 200 sailors were treated for smoke-related issues.
4What military operations has Gerald R. Ford participated in before arriving in Croatia?
The Gerald R. Ford participated in U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran and previous missions in the Caribbean and Red Sea.
5How does the visit strengthen US-Croatia relations?
The carrier's visit reaffirms the strong and enduring alliance between the United States and Croatia, both NATO allies.
