WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Program Executive Office (PEO) for Aircraft Carriers announced USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) successfully completed the drydocking portion of her Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH), May 23.
RCOH is a mid-life refueling and modernization program for aircraft carriers that enable them to complete the final half of their 50 year service life. During an RCOH, more than 20 million man-hours of work are conducted on board the ship, divided between refueling the propulsion plant, upgrading ship's infrastructure to last for the next 25 years, and modernizing combat systems and air wing capabilities to increase combat effectiveness.
CVN 71 will be the first RCOH to incorporate work normally carried out during a Fleet maintenance availability, returning the ship to the Fleet sooner and at lower cost.
"Undocking of USS Theodore Roosevelt marks a major step towards completing her RCOH on time and within budget," said Rear Adm. Michael McMahon, program executive officer for Aircraft Carriers. "The Navy/shipbuilder team that worked together to make this happen is committed to keeping America's aircraft carrier fleet operationally available and ready to meet any requirement for their full service life."
CVN 71 has been moved to an outfitting pier to complete the remainder of her RCOH in December 2012.
Theodore Roosevelt is the fourth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier to undergo RCOH at Newport News. Advance planning is currently underway for the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) RCOH, scheduled to begin in Fiscal Year 2013.
PEO Aircraft Carriers is responsible for the acquisition, modernization and support of the Navy's in-service and future aircraft carriers.
