The world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise, which holds a historic place in US Naval history, has departed on its final journey. On November 2, the vessel was taken under tow from Newport News, Virginia, heading to Mobile, Alabama, to undergo final dismantling.
Sea-news.az reports that after entering service in 1961, the aircraft carrier logged 55 years of active duty before being officially decommissioned in 2017. Over its operational lifespan, the nuclear-powered ship logged over one million nautical miles, taking part in the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and military operations across the Middle East.
In 2025, a $536 million contract was awarded to NorthStar Maritime Dismantlement Services for the vessel’s recycling. Operations are expected to conclude by November 2029, with all radioactive components remaining under strict US government oversight.
Measuring 342 meters in length with a displacement of approximately 94,000 tonnes, USS Enterprise remains the longest warship ever constructed. Its legacy will live on through the US Navy’s upcoming Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier. The new Enterprise (CVN 80) will become the ninth US naval vessel to bear the storied name.
