Northrop Grumman Corporation has completed builder’s sea trials of nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77). Builder’s sea trials provide an opportunity to test systems, components and compartments at sea for the first time. The trials also include high-speed runs and a demonstration of the carrier’s other capabilities.

“The road to get CVN 77 to this point has been a long journey that started in January 2001 with the detailed design and construction contract,” said Scott Stabler, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding’s vice president overseeing the project. “Since then, we’ve worked millions of man hours, installed more than eight and a half million feet of cable, updated more than 70 percent of the design, and brought 90,000 tons of steel to life.”

Following builder’s trials, the ship will undergo acceptance trials, conducted by representatives of the U.S. Navy Board of Inspection and Survey, to test and evaluate the ship’s systems and performance. Upon completion of acceptance trials, the ship will return to Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va.