USS Nimitz departs after delays

EVERETT, Wash. — After being delayed Friday, the USS Nimitz departed Saturday morning from an Everett naval station.

The Nimitz was scheduled to depart Friday afternoon, but due to equipment issues, the ship was on a one-day delay.

On Saturday, the ship was scheduled to head out at 9 a.m., but fog delayed the departure.

The Nimitz departed after 10 a.m.

Officials said the Nimitz is heading out on an extended deployment in the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf. It is the first time it’s going out on one of these deployments from its Everett home port.

The Nimitz arrived in 2012 replacing the Lincoln, which was a carrier that left in 2011 for nuclear refueling at a shipyard in Virginia.

At 38 years old, the Nimitz is the U.S. Navy’s oldest operating aircraft carrier. Its crew is 3,000 and another 2,000 people will come aboard when its air wing joins the ship at sea near San Diego.

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News spoke with 18-year-old Jacklyn Ditzel, who said the deployment will be her first.

“A lot of mixed emotions. I’m excited to go see the world, but nervous to be away from my family and friends for such a long time,” Ditzel said.

KIRO