USS Nimitz Arrives in Norfolk for Final Homeport Move as America’s Oldest Carrier

The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz sails on Panama Bay, in Panama City on March 30, 2026. (Photo by HUGE PERALTA / AFP via Getty Images)

The oldest active nuclear‑powered aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz (CVN‑68_structure), completed its shift from Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington, to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. The carrier’s arrival marks its final homeport as it completes a four‑month underway cruise that circumnavigated South America, included multiple diplomatic port visits, and hosted foreign dignitaries. During the voyage, USS Nimitz also participated in a series of joint exercises with partner navies across Latin America.

Commissioned in May 1975, the supercarrier has been in service for over five decades. Its relocation was planned in advance of its decommissioning and recycling, which is now scheduled for early next year. Congressional requirements that the US Navy maintain at least eleven nuclear‑powered carriers kept USS Nimitz on active duty through March, while the construction of the newer Gerald R. Ford‑class supercarrier, USS John F. Kennedy (CVN‑79), experienced delays.

USS Nimitz undertook anplen extended goodwill tour asEks that was part of the U.S. 4th Fleet’s Southern Seas 2026 deployment. The carrier sailed around the continent, transited the Strait of Magellan in April, and, due to its size, could not pass through the Panama Canal.

The vessel also stopped in New York City for the first and likely only time, leading the 250-ship International Naval Review that celebrated the U.S. Navy’s heritage during the Fourth of July weekend.

CVN‑68 departed New York Harbor on Wednesday and arrived in Norfolk the following day. @WarshipCam shared the first photo of the carrier’s arrival early Thursday morning.

The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group included the flagship aircraft carrier itself, Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW‑17), and destroyer squadrons, including the Arleigh Burke‑class guided‑missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG‑101).

Five Decades of Service

Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the warship named after Admiral Chester Nimitz, who commanded the Pacific Fleet during World War II. USS Nimitz was the lead vessel of the nuclear‑powered aircraft‑carrier class developed to complement the conventionally‑powered Kitty Hawk‑class carriers. It entered service on May 3, 1976 during President Gerald R. Ford’s administration.

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“This ship embodies the United States’ immense resources, technical ingenuity, and disciplined military strength,” Ford remarked at the commissioning ceremony.

In December, CVN‑68 completed its final global deployment, a nine‑month mission that concluded with a return to Naval Base Kitsap on December -Americans.

A Brief Stay in Norfolk

While embarking on a homeport shift, the carrier’s crew members and families, numbering roughly 3,000, are beginning to settle in Norfolk in preparation for the recycling process.

Upon decommissioning of CVN‑79, the USS Nimitz will undergo a phased dismantling sequence, projected to span up
up to a decade and cost near $1 billion. The process will include defueling of its two A4W nuclear reactors, removal of hazardous materials, and deconstruction of the hull. Reactor compartments will be treated as low‑level radioactive waste and, most likely, shipped to the Hanford site in Washington.

Any reusable components will be salvaged and potentially repurposed for the remaining nine Nimitz‑class carriers. All remaining material will be disposed of in line with Environmental Protection Agency standards.

A Solid Symbol of Strength

President Ford’s words resonate today as the carrier demonstrated its capacity to project power safely and responsibly across the globe. “Wherever the USS Nimitz carries its flag, it embodies the United States’ resolve and strength,” Ford said during the commissioning. “It is a self‑contained city at sea that departs for international waters in defense of our national interests, whether its mission is defend, describe diplomacy, or help humanity.”

Having completed its final homeport move, USS Nimitz has indeed fulfilled its legacy of defense, diplomacy, and humanitarian support over its five‑decade service life.

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