The American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is expected to return to the port of Souda in Crete on Wednesday for refuelling and potential inspections following a fire that burned for more than 30 hours.

The fire, which began in the ship’s central laundry, spread through air ducts to multiple compartments.

Around 600 sailors lost their beds and were forced to sleep on tables or the floor, while many were unable to wash their clothes.

Two sailors were injured in the incident.

The US Navy said the blaze was contained, unrelated to combat operations, and did not affect the carrier’s mission in the Red Sea.

According to the New York Times, conditions on the 100,000-ton, $13 billion vessel were “far from ideal” for the 4,500 personnel on board.

The fire was finally brought under control after more than a day of firefighting in several compartments.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, on a ten-month deployment, had previously experienced issues with its lavatories and operational strains from extended missions.

Experts explain that prolonged deployments “leave marks on ships and crews,” delaying scheduled repairs and burdening equipment designed for shorter operations.

The carrier’s recent tour included the Mediterranean, a blockade in the Caribbean against Venezuela, and redeployment off the coast of Cyprus.

In Chania, unions and peace groups have expressed opposition to the ship’s presence, with the Chania Peace Committee calling for a rally on Friday demanding disengagement from military missions and closure of bases.

The vessel is not expected to resume operations in the Middle East after repairs in Souda and will return to the United States.