Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) will make one last homeport change, moving from Bremerton, Wash., to Norfolk, Va., before it starts the decommissioning process in 2026, USNI News has learned.
Nimitz and its crew of more than 3,000 will move to Norfolk by April 2026, according to a Congressional notice reviewed by USNI News. The nearly 50-year-old aircraft carrier is set to decommission in May 2026.
“Please be advised that the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) will homeport shift from Bremerton, Washington to Norfolk, Virginia [effective] April 12, 2026,” reads the Navy’s notice to Congress.
Once in Virginia, the first-in-class ship will go to HII Newport News’ yard where the company will begin the process to remove the nuclear fuel and deactivate the carrier.
The ship, which was commissioned in 1975, was built for a lifespan of 50 years. The service extended Nimitz’s life by 13 months and to add an extra deployment.
But before the carrier reaches the end of its life, the aircraft carrier is set to depart on one more deployment. It’s unclear where exactly the aircraft carrier strike group is set to go when it deploys later this year. While Nimitz is currently West Coast based, it could potentially head to the Red Sea as part of the ongoing Operation Prosperity Guardian mission, USNI News learned. The U.S. sent two West Coast carriers to the Middle East to relieve the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is currently operating in the Red Sea.
If Nimitz does return to the Middle East, it will be the second time the ship has gone to the region in the last five years. The ship spent time in the area after threats from Iran following the first anniversary of the death of Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani. Iran promised retaliation against the U.S. over the U.S.’s killing of the leader. Last week, a former sailor pled guilty for his role in an attempt to target Naval Station Great Lakes as revenge for Soleimani’s death.
Nimitz returned to Bremerton last week ahead of its next deployment, according to USNI News’ Fleet and Marine Tracker.
The aircraft carrier’s last deployment was to the Indo-Pacific for almost seven months. While deployed, it drilled with partners and allies, including Japan and India. It also participated in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Large Scale Global Exercise.
The Nimitz CSG also helped with relief efforts in Guam after Super Typhoon Mawar hit the island.
The ship was sidelined in 2022 ahead of the carrier strike group’s deployment due to contaminated water. It took two weeks to and two million gallons of water to clean the water system.
