Poo poo problems: The USS Gerald R. Ford has some serious toilet problems for the 4,500 sailors on board
The Navy’s flagship warship can launch cutting-edge aircraft, but thousands of sailors are currently battling a very different kind of traffic.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, played a key role in the United States’ attack on Venezuela on January 3, which saw President Nicolás Maduro and his wife captured and extracted from the country.
Could restroom issues hamper Iran attack
Costing about $13 billion in taxpayer money, the ship is 333 meters long, can carry more than 75 aircraft, and is equipped with a wide array of weaponry, including RIM-162 SeaSparrow Evolved missiles, RIM-116 missiles, Phalanx close-in weapon systems, and Mk 38 machine guns for short-range defense.
Its huge size means it can accommodate 4,550 people, expandable to as many as 6,000. But as President Donald Trump orders the vessel east while contemplating possible military action against Iran, any potential U.S. attack could be hampered by toilet problems on board its lead ship.
A problem from the beginning
Delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2017, the USS Gerald Ford has had restroom issues from the beginning.
A planning oversight means the vessel has always been short of toilets, a problem which has been further highlighted with approximately 4,500 people currently on board. According to emails obtained by NPR, sailors have complained about having to wait 45 minutes to use the restroom, surely not ideal preparation for a military operation.
An engineering issue has worsened the situation. The vacuum sewage system used on the aircraft carrier is typically deployed on cruise ships. However, the demands are vastly different. According to NPR, a valve breakdown in one toilet can stop all toilets in the same area from working.
The $400,000 “fix”
One temporary solution is cleaning the pipes with an acid flush. But that costs $400,000 each time and has been carried out at least 10 times since 2023.
On top of that, an acid flush can only be performed when the warship is docked, which obviously is not an option at the moment.
The situation has led to rising tensions between different groups on board, with sewage staff blaming sailors for clogging the toilets with unusual items, including T-shirts and pieces of rope.
The most advanced aircraft carrier ever built can launch cutting-edge fighter jets and project U.S. power across the globe, but it still has to deal with a very human problem. For now, one of the biggest challenges on board the $13 billion warship may simply be finding an open bathroom before the line gets too long.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.