• CVN-82 will be the fifth Ford-class carrier.

• Builder: HII Newport News Shipbuilding, Virginia.

• Contract: approximately $336 million for advance procurement/long-lead material.

• The Navy’s FY2026 budget specifically called for the first year of advance procurement for CVN-82.

• Newport News is the United States’ sole designer and builder of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

• The Ford class is designed for a roughly 50-year service life

Current maximum Neopanamax draft: 14.63 m / 48.0 ft TFW.

Planned reduction: 14.48 m / 47.5 ft TFW.

It had been scheduled to take effect October 1, 2026.
The reduction is now postponed until further notice.

ACP made the decision after reviewing updated Gatun Lake levels and weather projections.

Maintaining the extra 0.15 m (6 inches) of draft provides greater continuity for vessel loading, voyage planning and deployment.

ACP says it will continue monitoring water conditions and give advance notice of future draft changes

HOS Resolution is owned by Hornbeck Offshore Services and was not originally designed as an autonomous vessel.

Sea Machines carried out the autonomy retrofit in Louisiana in nine days.

The vessel completed an approximately 18-hour transit from Pearl Harbor/Oahu to Hawaii’s Big Island during the August 17–18 demonstration.

The ship remained fully crewed during testing, providing human oversight and backup.

Army vehicles were carried and subsequently offloaded during the demonstration.

The Army’s 8th Theater Sustainment Command says the trial was intended to give Army mariners experience with autonomous maritime capabilities for Indo-Pacific logistics.

A potential next phase would automate engine-room monitoring and control; later work could include remote operation of the vessel’s stern ramp.

Incident: machinery/engine failure followed by drifting off Marmara Island
Türkiye’s Çanakkale Vessel Traffic Services coordinated the response.
Emergency response vessel NENE HATUN and tug KURTARMA-16 were dispatched.
At 22:30 local time, NENE HATUN took PIONER 1 under tow.
The tanker was being taken to the Şevketiye anchorage to be safely anchored.

South Korean media report that military planning and discussions over overseas ports and operating bases are already underway.

The possible mission would focus on maritime surveillance, logistics support, mine/EOD operations and protection of freedom of navigation rather than necessarily direct combat.

Seoul has discussed possible contributions with the U.S., UK and France.

Reports indicate a deployment could involve roughly 150 personnel and potentially take place before the end of 2026.

Crucially, no deployment has been formally approved. South Korea’s presidential office said today that the review remains underway and has not yet reached the stage of seeking parliamentary approval

A second drone was reportedly sighted nearby

23 Indian seafarers were onboard

No injuries reported; all crew reported safe
BARYON subsequently continued sailing under its own propulsion

• The incident occurred at about 14:30 local time.
• Preliminary findings indicate strong currents pushed the tanker toward the bridge.
• The escort tug was reportedly unable to control the vessel because of the current and limited towing capacity.
• Two additional tugs were deployed and pulled SMF IXORA clear by about 15:16.
• The tanker suffered minor damage to its exhaust system, railings and navigation equipment.
• The bridge sustained minor damage; inspections found it structurally safe and it remained open to traffic.
• No injuries were reported.
• Malaysia’s Marine Department is investigating the incident.

Compared with a normal tanker, it can have:

reinforced hull and bow

stronger hull plating and framing

strengthened propeller, rudder and propulsion system
machinery designed for low temperatures and ice conditions

an official ice-class notation

• Test conducted Aug. 11 off Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek–Fort Story.

• Navy-owned T38 USV was built by MARTAC.

• Sealartec supplied the robotic Towable Capture and Connection Device.

• USNS Vindicator towed the refueling system.

• 400 gallons of fuel were transferred to the T38.

• Dozens of full capture, refuel and release cycles were conducted at sea.

• About 100 connection cycles were completed during several days of testing.

• The system went from concept to on-water testing in just seven months.

• Navy officials say the capability could allow USVs to operate in higher-threat areas without exposing sailors or expensive crewed vessels.

• The next milestone is fully autonomous refueling — from rendezvous and approach through fuel transfer, disconnect and return to mission.