The photo was taken last Sunday, July 8, from an airplane flying over the Atlantic Ocean. The USS Harry S. Truman is conducting sea trials in collaboration with Norfolk Naval Shipyard to train Sailors and ensure operability of equipment and systems while at sea.
In the shot, the aircraft carrier is attempting a turn in the water, where it’s ramped up to full power and then the rudder is pushed to make it turn, it’s like a car skid. Everything on the deck has to be tightly secured for this operation. Otherwise it would fall off into the water. That sort of turn usually results in a 10-15 degree list, which is a big angle for a mega ship like this one. The process is called “power run and rudder swing checks during sea trials”.
