Lack of Funding Affects USS Lincoln Refueling and Complex Overhaul

Lack of Funding Affects USS Lincoln Refueling and Complex Overhaul

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) will not start due to a lack of funding, the Navy said Feb. 8.

Lincoln was expected to move to Newport News shipyard next week to begin the overhaul. However, as a result of the fiscal constraints resulting from the ongoing continuing resolution (CR), the contract for the refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) has not been issued to Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.

Lincoln will remain pierside at Naval Station Norfolk until sufficient funding is received to start the execution of the RCOH. In the meantime, the ship's Sailors continue to conduct maintenance.

In their 50 year life spans, one RCOH is scheduled for the midpoint of an aircraft carrier's service life. Lincoln was commissioned 23 years ago Nov. 11, 1989.

The impact of indefinitely postponing CVN 72's RCOH is three-fold:
* the time scheduled for the RCOH will have to be lengthened because the overhaul won't begin when it was expected,
* delayed redelivery of Lincoln to the fleet,
* and impacts to industry (takes away money/jobs and can delay subsequent scheduled availabilities).