The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) is moved to an outfitting berth in Newport News, Virginia, April 8, 2024. John C. Stennis is in Newport News Shipbuilding conducting Refueling and Complex Overhaul to prepare the ship for the second half of its 50-year service life. 

The giant aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis is taking longer to fix than originally planned. The ship is currently in a shipyard in Virginia getting major repairs and upgrades, but it won’t be finished until October 2026, almost a year later than expected.

The reason for the delay? It’s hard to find enough qualified workers to do the job! In 2021, the Stennis went into the shipyard for a complex overhaul, like a giant car getting a tune-up and new parts. This keeps the ship running smoothly for many years to come.

“These repairs are super complicated,” said Rear Adm. James Fanning, who’s in charge of aircraft carrier repairs for the Navy. “Lately it’s been tough to find enough skilled people to do all the work, so we need to take some extra time.”

Experts say the COVID-19 pandemic might also be to blame. The pandemic might have made it harder for shipyards to hire new workers, and safety measures put in place during the pandemic might have slowed things down a bit too.

This delay is a bit of a headache for the Navy. They want to have aircraft carriers around the world, but with the Stennis out of service longer, they’ll need to adjust their plans and rely on other carriers to do the job.

Fixing these giant ships is always a challenge, but not having enough workers makes it even harder.