The USS Gerald R. Ford has begun a planned incremental availability (PIA) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard that is expected to last around 18 months. A fire in March caused extensive damage to berthing spaces, while the carrier’s vacuum sewage system — with 650 toilets — has suffered repeated failures throughout its recent deployment. The combination of fire damage repairs and major plumbing work will keep the Navy’s newest supercarrier out of action significantly longer than a normal maintenance period.