The refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) is well underway at Newport News Shipbuilding. Craftsmen and craftswomen from different departments recently worked together to remove a section of the ship’s flight deck to provide access to other levels of CVN 74.

After undertaking several steps to prepare for removal of the ship’s machinery opening – a more than 38,000-pound section that includes six different compartments – shipbuilders cut and lifted the section. The section is now in Dry Dock 10, where it will undergo more work before being sent to blast and coat in preparation for reinstallation in about one year.

Watch a time-lapse video on MyNNS of CVN 74’s ship’s machinery opening being removed.