Part 3/12:
A pivotal piece of the construction process is the yard’s 1,500-metric-ton gantry crane, upgraded in 2008, which has handled every U.S. carrier built since the 1970s. This infrastructure determines how large each section can be, how many prefabricated parts can be assembled before lifts, and ultimately influences the entire build schedule. The goal has been to reduce the number of large lifts—targeting around 445—fewer than previous generations, thereby minimizing alignment and welding work.