USS Gerald R. Ford Returns to Souda Bay Following Middle East Operations and Onboard Fire

Today, March 23, 2026, the US Navy supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) returned to the naval base in Souda Bay, on the Greek island of Crete. The unit’s return to the Mediterranean Sea was confirmed in recent hours, marking a crucial logistical and technical stopover for the vessel.

The flagship of the namesake Carrier Strike Group (CSG), the largest aircraft carrier in the world, returns from a prolonged operational deployment in the Red Sea and the Middle East. There, it was deployed in support of United States Central Command (CENTCOM) operations amid the ongoing regional crisis. The unit is currently facing an exceptionally long deployment, now entering its tenth month of operations.

Today’s port call in Crete takes on special significance due to a recent incident. On March 12, a large fire broke out in the ship’s aft laundry area. According to US Navy reports, it took several hours of intense effort by onboard firefighting teams to completely extinguish the flames. The emergency injured two sailors and caused material and smoke damage to several internal compartments, temporarily compromising a portion of the crew’s living quarters.

Mooring at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay will allow technicians to conduct necessary damage assessments and initiate repairs. This marks the Ford‘s second visit to the Greek base in just a few weeks; the carrier previously docked there in late February to replenish fuel, provisions, and ammunition before heading south to the Middle Eastern theater of operations.

The US Navy has confirmed that investigations into the exact cause of the fire are still ongoing. The stop in Crete, which is expected to last longer than average to facilitate restoration work, will nonetheless keep the asset ready to respond to the needs of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.