By Esteban Capdepón Sendra
Naval Base Norfolk, US, May 29 (EFE).— Activity on the pier is nonstop as preparations continue aboard the USS George H. W. Bush aircraft carrier.
Like a bustling city center, a steady stream of sailors in blue overalls weaves through the deck, accompanied by the roar of helicopter blades landing just meters away and machines loading pallets of soft drinks and other provisions for the mission ahead.
The Bush, also known as CVN-77, is always deployed with a strike group that includes advanced frigates and destroyers.
It is one of the US Navy’s aircraft carriers based at Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world and NATO’s continental hub.
This imposing vessel stretches over 300 meters, roughly the length of three football fields or the height of the Eiffel Tower laid on its side.
The deck can accommodate around 50 aircraft and is capable of launching multiple takeoffs simultaneously in deployment zones such as the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, or the Persian Gulf.
The Bush has taken part in major US military campaigns, including the fight against the Islamic State and operations following the Sep.11 attacks.
Powered by nuclear energy, including the catapults that launch fighter jets and 260,000-horsepower engines, the ship is virtually autonomous and always ready for deployment, according to crew .
“When it sets sail, it is like a floating city,” says Stan Zaneski from the control cabin. He is one of the 5,000 sailors aboard the Bush awaiting their next mission.
A Frontline in the Race Against China
Situated on the Atlantic coast, Naval Station Norfolk houses the navy’s largest concentration of forces: 75 ships docked across 14 piers, and 134 aircraft stored in 11 hangars.
Every day, thousands of service train to remain combat-ready, a tradition that dates back to World War I, when the base first served as an airfield for seaplanes.
Despite hosting the world’s largest naval base, the US is falling behind China in shipbuilding. China now leads global ship production, which has raised alarms in Washington.
In April, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at “regaining maritime dominance” by revitalizing the country’s shipbuilding sector.
According to the order, the US currently builds only 0.2 percent of the world’s ships, compared to China’s 74 percent.
In line with this, the Pentagon has identified expanded naval construction as a top priority.
“Rebuilding our depleted maritime industrial base is a national security imperative,” said Navy Secretary John Phelan in a congressional testimony.
“I have a clear view of where our shipbuilding dollars have gone, and I am putting together a plan to fix what is not working.”
From Warships to Hollywood
When a US Navy aircraft carrier deploys, it never sails alone. It is accompanied by a strike group whose ships perform roles ranging from missile defense and submarine tracking to coastal surveillance. One such vessel is the USS Bainbridge (DDG-96), a destroyer.
The Bainbridge played a key role in the 2009 rescue of Captain Richard Phillips, who was kidnapped by Somali pirates. That high-stakes operation was later dramatized in the film “Captain Phillips,” starring Tom Hanks.
“Our job is to maintain peace. That means winning when it comes to combat,” says Senior Chief Petty Officer James Konopa from the ship’s deck.
A veteran of six ships across missions in the Pacific and Middle East, he now awaits “the moment to act.”
While there is a general idea of when that moment might come, he says it ultimately depends on how global conflicts unfold.
Like him, thousands of sailors navigate industrial labyrinths of narrow corridors, hatches, and stairways in service of the US Navy, which marks its 250th anniversary this year. EFE
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