Katrin Albritton News

Tug boats steady the bow of USS George Washington (CVN 73) as the aircraft carrier transits from dry dock to a wet slip. The Norfolk-based Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is currently undergoing Planned Incremental Availability and Docking (PIA+D). The availability will prepare George Washington to relieve USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as the fleet's forward deployed carrier in 2008. U.S. USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) successfully completed its move from the dry dock at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) to a pierside berth April 25, one week earlier than previously scheduled. The berth shift marks a significant milestone in the Planned Incremental Availability and Docking (PIA+D) period before the ship heads to Japan in 2008.