The 700-ton bow unit, the final keel section of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush (CVN 77).

Newport News, Va. (Mar. 08, 2005) The 700-ton bow unit, the final keel section of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush (CVN 77), is lowered into place in the dry dock at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. George H. W. Bush is being built using modular construction, a process where smaller sections of the ship below the waterline are lowered into place in dry dock. George H. W. Bush is the second carrier to have the new bulbous bow design that provides more buoyancy to the forward end of he ship and improves hull efficiency. George H. W. Bush is the tenth and final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and her christening will occur in 2006 with delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2008. Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Newport News File# 050308-N-0000X-003