Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Feb 24: As the United States prepares for possible military action against Iran, the spotlight on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has shifted from war strategy to an unexpected onboard crisis — malfunctioning toilets and a failing sewage system that are straining life for the more than 4,500 sailors aboard.

The carrier, the most advanced and expensive in the US Navy fleet at about $13 billion, has been at sea since June 2025, well beyond the usual six-month deployment, and is now on track to break records for continuous time at sea. Amid this extended mission, essential routine maintenance has fallen behind, aggravating longstanding plumbing issues.

At the heart of the problem is a vacuum-based sewage system adapted from cruise ship technology. Narrow pipes that frequently clog have left many of the vessel’s approximately 650 toilets inoperable, forcing sailors to queue for up to 45 minutes to use functioning facilities.

Behind the scenes, engineers and technicians have been working long hours — sometimes 19-hour days — to clear blockages, while the long deployment has made regular overhauls difficult. In one instance in 2025, internal logs showed 205 breakdowns over four days.

For the predominantly young crew, many in their early 20s, the operational strain has taken a human toll. Extended separation from family and missed life milestones have contributed to fatigue and frustration, with some sailors reportedly contemplating leaving the service once the deployment ends.

Despite the sanitary difficulties, the US Navy maintains that the carrier remains mission capable and continues toward the Middle East to join forces amid the growing regional tension.