Key Points and Summary – Eight months after a February collision with a cargo ship in the Mediterranean, the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman continues to operate with visible hull damage.
-The U.S. Navy has deferred full repairs until the ship’s scheduled mid-life Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH), expected to begin in 2026.
(July 3, 2018) A French Dassault Rafale M Fighter touches down on the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is currently deployed as part of an ongoing rotation of U.S. forces supporting maritime security operations in international waters around the globe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Rebekah A. Watkins/Released)
-While temporary fixes were made, the captain was relieved of command following the incident.
-The decision to delay permanent repairs, while logical, also highlights the severe strain on the U.S. naval industrial base, which is struggling with maintenance backlogs and shipyard capacity issues.
Why Is The Aircraft Carrier USS Harry S. Truman’s Repairs Delayed Until RCOH?
On Feb. 12, during a deployment to the Mediterranean and the Middle East, the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) collided with the Panamanian-operated cargo ship Besiktas-M off the coast of Port Said, Egypt.
The carrier was transiting near the northern end of the Suez Canal, reportedly waiting to re-enter the Red Sea.
The consequent cosmetic damage to the Harry S. Truman’s exterior will not be repaired before its upcoming Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH), which is expected to start within a year.
The U.S. Navy decided to address the damage as part of the ship’s RCOH—a multi-year process that includes comprehensive structural repairs, system upgrades, and refueling of the ship’s nuclear reactors.
The U.S. Navy Gerald R. Ford–class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 4 June 2020, marking the first time a Gerald R. Ford–class and a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier operated together underway.
In the interim, temporary repairs were made to maintain the ship’s watertight integrity, and the external damage has been painted over.
The Collision At The Suez Canal
In a released statement, the U.S. Sixth Fleet said:
“The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) was involved in a collision with the merchant vessel Besiktas-M at approximately 11:46 p.m. local time, Feb. 12, while operating in the vicinity of Port Said, Egypt, in the Mediterranean Sea.
“The collision did not endanger the Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) as there are no reports of flooding or injuries. The propulsion plants are unaffected and in a safe and stable condition. The incident is under investigation. More information will be released as it becomes available.
“The other ship sustained damage above the waterline, but it continued on its own power,” a U.S. Navy official told The War Zone. “The Truman was preparing to transit south into the Suez Canal. No damage to the nuclear power plant.”
After the accident, the Truman diverted to Souda Bay, Crete, to undergo Emergent Repair Availability—a kind of unplanned, short-term repair necessary after a collision.
Collisions involving aircraft carriers are rare, because the vessels usually operate within the confines of a Carrier Strike Group. This means they are surrounded by a flotilla of ships whose purpose is to protect the carrier.
250923-N-FY193-1405 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Sept. 23, 2025) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) conducts carrier qualifications in the Atlantic Ocean. Truman is currently underway carrying out routine operations that support the Navy’s commitment to readiness, innovation, and future fleet lethality. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mike Shen)
However, when transiting the Suez Canal, ships have to travel in a single file.
This isn’t the first time that the Besiktas-M has been involved in an accident. Vessel Tracker reported that the ship in 2016 collided with another commercial ship, the Common Spirit, near Chittagong in Bangladesh, resulting in damage to both vessels.
Captain Of USS Harry S. Truman Relieved
However, Capt. Dave Snowden was relieved just over a week after the accident. Snowden was relieved by Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander of Carrier Strike Group 8, which includes the USS Harry S. Truman.
The official reason given by the Navy was a loss of confidence in Snowden’s ability to command.
“The U.S. Navy holds commanding officers to the highest standard and takes action to hold them accountable when those standards are not met,” the Navy release said. “Naval leaders are entrusted with significant responsibilities to their Sailors and their ships.”
Snowden will be temporarily assigned to Naval Air Forces Atlantic. He was a former executive officer on the Harry S. Truman. He became captain in December 2023 after completing a tour as commander of the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD-17).
The interim commander is Capt. Chris Hill, who commanded the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69). The Eisenhower is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
Why Did The Navy Delay the Aircraft Carrier Repairs Until RCOH?
The Navy decided to postpone complete hull restoration and cosmetic repairs until the ship’s planned mid-life overhaul.
The RCOH is a scheduled, once-in-a-lifetime event for nuclear carriers that includes extensive repairs and modernization to address damage permanently. The process includes the refueling of the two nuclear reactors.
This extensive overhaul involves repairing and upgrading all major systems, such as the flight deck, catapults, arresting gear, propulsion plant, and combat and IT systems. Other priorities include modernizing compartments, tanks, and living spaces. The goal is to modernize the carrier for another 25 years of service life.
Because these overhauls are scheduled only once over a carrier’s roughly 50-year life, the Navy often defers lower-priority cosmetic or structural repairs until the event.
Navy officials indicated that the Truman’s RCOH is expected to begin sometime in 2026. Completing repairs specific to the collision before then would not make sense, given the ship is scheduled to enter dry dock next year.
During the 250th Navy anniversary event held aboard the carrier in October 2025, the damaged area was concealed by a large blue Navy banner while U.S. President Donald Trump gave his remarks.
Maintenance And Shipyard Woes Of the Navy
The Navy is facing numerous issues with maintenance backlogs and deferred depot work, and the service is constantly dealing with work that goes over budget. A Government Accounting Office report found that Navy ships leave port lacking 35 percent of required spare parts.
It shows the uncomfortable truth that U.S. shipyards are in terrible shape. They face a shortage of skilled labor, aging infrastructure, inconsistent government demand, supply chain problems, and a shrinking industrial base.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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