May 18, 2007: Nuclear powered warships have to have
their depleted nuclear fuel replaced after 20-30 years. That's expensive, and
time consuming. For example, the U.S. Nimitz class carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN
70) entered service in 1982, but is now undergoing a three year refurbishment
that will include the refueling, and a long list of upgrades. This will cost
$3.1 billion. The nuclear refueling accounts for 16 percent of that. The
upgrades to mechanical and electronic components will reduce crew size, and
allow more space for the crew, in refurbished living quarters. All this will
keep the Vinson in service until 2032.
The nuclear refueling has become obsolete. The
latest SSN subs (Seawolf and Virginia) use a new reactor design that eliminates
the need for the elaborate (taking apart the reactors, and part of the ship)
refueling process. The next American carrier, CVN 21, will use this new
technology.
But what won't go away will be the massive
refurbishments. This is something that has been going on for decades, and has
become more important as new technology is introduced at a more rapid rate. The
Vinson work will be done in 2009.
