USS Alabama returns to water

Fleet Public Affairs Center Det. Northwest USS Alabama is officially floating again after its 20-month dry-dock period ended Aug. 21.

The Alabama was officially dry-docked Jan. 18, 2006. Overall maintenance is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2008, which means the Alabama should be ready to start sea trials, finish the recertification process and return to the Navy as an operational unit.

During Alabama’s dry-dock period, it endured 11 hull cuts which had to be welded back together and made water tight. The crew of Alabama has to put the ship through its paces by testing all the new equipment and then the crew has to get recertified to take the ship back out to sea.

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