PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — Repairs to USS Port Royal (CG 73) are nearing completion for damage sustained when the ship ran aground near Honolulu International Airport's Reef Runway in February, the U.S. Navy said today.

The guided-missile cruiser remains in dry dock at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. Most of the required repairs have been completed. The ship's rudders have been reinstalled and structural work on the ship's tanks and underwater hull has been accomplished.

Structural challenges were encountered in rebuilding the sonar dome, the area of the ship most heavily damaged in the grounding, and in addition, the struts that support the propulsion shafts were found to be out of alignment by a very small, but critical amount. These complications have extended the repair schedule slightly.

While the majority of the ship's underwater hull will be painted as it now sits in dock, a small amount of the hull is covered up by the blocks upon which the ship sits. As repairs are completed, Port Royal will be refloated and then redocked in a different position so the areas previously covered can be painted. That three-week process is scheduled for September.

After leaving the dry dock the final time, the ship will conduct several weeks of extensive pierside testing to ensure all systems are operational. In addition, extensive crew training is being conducted to ensure proficiency before the ship returns to full operational service in early October.

The cost of repairs is nearing the high end of the initial estimate of $25 million to $40 million. The total amount will include any additional work required to ensure the ship is fully operational, including costs associated with recertifying the ship's combat systems.

The Navy, in coordination with the state of Hawaii, has also spent more than $7 million stabilizing the reef at the grounding site by reattaching thousands of coral colonies and removing 250 cubic yards of rubble.