Navy Awards $3B to Newport News Shipbuilding for USS John C. Stennis Refueling - USNI News

The Navy today awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding $3 billion for the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH).

Stennis is next in line for this mid-life availability, which includes tearing the flight deck off, gutting the ship of most of its computer and combat systems, overhauling tanks and other spaces, and then rebuilding the ship back up for the second half of its 50-year service life – in addition to refueling the carrier’s two nuclear reactors.

Though RCOHs are generally considered four-year events, the planning and early work starts well beforehand. The Navy first awarded Newport News Shipbuilding a $187.5-million contract in August 2018 to start engineering, pre-overhaul inspections, design, material purchasing and fabrication work.

Stennis was previously expected to move to Newport News Shipbuilding in January so the RCOH could begin later in the year. USNI News understands the carrier won’t head to the shipyard until April at the earliest, and it’s unclear exactly when the RCOH will formally commence.