Final Voyage: Dismantling the World's First Nuclear Aircraft Carrier
The USS Enterprise, the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, has begun its final journey to a specialized facility for dismantling.
The USS Enterprise, famously known as 'Big E,' has embarked on its final voyage from Virginia to Alabama, where it will undergo a complete dismantling process. Commissioned in 1961, the vessel ceased operational duties in 2012, concluding a storied career spanning over five decades.
As the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the ship relied on eight reactors for its propulsion. According to media reports, the complexity of disposing of the reactors and lingering radiation risks made dismantling the only viable option, especially as turning it into a museum was deemed unfeasible for security and military reasons.
The U.S. Navy intends to use this project as a blueprint for future decommissioning efforts. The dismantling process is expected to continue until 2030, serving as a technical guide for handling other nuclear-powered carriers once they reach the end of their service life.