World's Largest Aircraft Carrier Docks in Split: After Fire and Technical Problems, USS Gerald Ford Leaves the War Zone

The largest and most modern aircraft carrier of the US Navy, USS Gerald R. Ford, docked in Split, Croatia on Saturday, March 28, after prematurely leaving Crete, Greece. The ship, which was deployed in the conflict with Iran, has been struggling with several serious problems — from a fire, through repeated failures of the vacuum toilet system, to a tense atmosphere in the Greek port. Croatia Week ↗

The fire, which broke out on March 12 in the ship's laundry room during operations in the Red Sea, required medical treatment for several sailors due to smoke inhalation and one evacuation. The fire was extinguished only after more than 30 hours and destroyed more than 100 berths, forcing approximately 600 crew members to sleep on floors, tables, or makeshift beds. The US Navy confirmed that the fire was not related to combat operations. Middle East Monitor ↗

Additional technical problems compounded the fire. American media reported repeated failures of the vacuum toilet system, which required engineers' intervention. According to a Pentagon assessment cited by Bloomberg, there is not enough current test data available to fully evaluate the ship's operational capability, with questions being raised about the reliability of the catapult system, radar capabilities, and weapons elevators. Middle East Monitor ↗

USS Gerald R. Ford has been deployed since June 2025, and its deployment has already lasted more than nine months — significantly longer than the standard seven-month cycle. During operations against Iran, aircraft from the Ford's deck played a significant role. Before arriving in the Middle East, the ship operated in Venezuela-related operations in the Caribbean. If the deployment continues until mid-April, it will be the longest aircraft carrier deployment since the Vietnam era. 19FortyFive ↗

After the fire, the ship withdrew to the port of Souda Bay on Crete, where it stayed from March 23 to 26. However, its presence sparked protests — left-wing parties, trade unions, and student groups organized anti-war demonstrations, and a large rally was being prepared near the base. Greek media reported that authorities wanted to prevent incidents during shore leave for 4,500 crew members in the relatively small town of Chania. The protests may have contributed to the decision to move the ship to Croatia. Blue News ↗

According to sources, the Lora naval base in Split has specialized capabilities for demanding technical work and is an important site for multinational NATO exercises. This is the second visit to Split for USS Gerald R. Ford — it first docked here in October 2025. The US Embassy in Zagreb described the visit as a demonstration of continuing cooperation and emphasized Croatia's role as a valuable NATO ally. Croatia Week ↗

The departure of USS Gerald R. Ford from the war zone temporarily reduces the presence of American aircraft carriers in the region. The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush is to replace the Ford and should arrive in the eastern Mediterranean within 10 to 12 days of deployment. 19FortyFive ↗