The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) was delayed Tuesday due to a mechanical problem.

It is expected to arrive Wednesday at Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton for a 16 month scheduled Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF), navy sources have announced.

The Nimitz’s homeport will be shifted from Everett to NBK – Bremerton for the duration of the maintenance period.

This administrative shift enables the ship’s crew to move their family members in order to reduce separation time during the extended maintenance period. The administrative homeport change applies to the PIA maintenance period.

Upon arrival, the Nimitz will pull in to PSNS & IMF’s Controlled Industrial Area (CIA) to begin maintenance.

Capt. John C. Ring, Commanding Officer, USS Nimitz, is expected to speak following the docking.

Navy sources were not specific about the mechanical problem but said late Tuesday that the ship is still expected to move to Bremerton Wednesday morning.