The oldest U.S. aircraft carrier has set sail on its final overseas deployment — Forbes
The USS Nimitz (CVN-68), the oldest active U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, will make its final overseas port call before being officially decommissioned.
Forbes reports this.
On June 1, the ship will arrive in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, where it will spend five days as part of the Southern Seas 2026 maritime cooperation program.
According to the U.S. diplomatic mission, this city will be the last foreign port of call in the history of the legendary flagship.
The warship, which joined the U.S. Navy in May 1975, completed its final combat deployment at the end of 2025.
After nearly 52 years of impeccable service, the Pentagon plans to decommission the ship in March 2027.
This spring, the aircraft carrier departed from its homeport in Bremerton, Washington, to be transferred to its new homeport in Norfolk, Virginia.
During the long transoceanic voyage, the crew is actively participating in the Southern Seas 2026 mission, visiting key countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Official Washington views this event as an important geopolitical gesture and a symbol of a strong alliance.
Scott Renner, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Jamaica, called the ship’s planned visit “an important milestone in the long-standing partnership between the two countries.”
The diplomat emphasized the special significance of this mission for the entire Caribbean region.
“In addition to strengthening maritime cooperation and regional security, this visit creates opportunities for meaningful people-to-people connections and economic benefits for local communities,” Renner said.
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