The Nimitz Is Taking the Scenic Route to the Scrapyard

On her long trip to the scrapyard, the venerable aircraft carrier will sail around South America and participate in naval exercises. The USS Nimitz, the oldest aircraft carrier in the US Navy, began its journey to Norfolk, Virginia last week. The current voyage will likely be the carrier’s final time at sea - after which it will be decommissioned from the Navy, broken up, and sold for scrap.

The USS Nimitz left Naval Base Kitsap, Washington, last weekend and is heading to Naval Station Norfolk. Because it is too large to pass through the Panama Canal, the mighty warship will need to sail all the way around South America in order to reach the East Coast.

During its time in the South Atlantic, after it rounds the tip of South America, the supercarrier will take part in the Southern Seas 2026 drills. Although still fit for operations, the lead ship of the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers is not capable of expeditionary operations.

“Detailed planning is currently underway for Nimitz to visit several partner states on the ship’s circumnavigation of the continent of South America, enroute to its new homeport,” Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Peter Pagano said in a statement to USNI News.