The US Navy's most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, is preparing to leave the Red Sea for repairs in Crete after a fire on board injured sailors and caused significant damage, US officials have said. It will travel to a US Navy base on the island for pierside repairs, authorities said, after a blaze broke out in the laundry facility last week and took hours to extinguish. The world's largest warship has been beset by problems during its deployment in the Middle East, including an earlier breakdown of its toilet system. The vessel has been deployed for nearly nine months and was sent to the region as part of US operations linked to the war with Iran. More than 200 crew members were assessed for smoke inhalation and later returned to duty after the fire broke out on March 2, US officials said. One sailor was medically evacuated and is in a stable condition, while two others were treated for minor injuries. The fire prompted a major damage control response, with sailors working for hours to contain the blaze and ensure it had not spread to other parts of the ship, officials reported. Smoke damage spread to sleeping quarters, leaving more than 100 beds unusable, and replacement cots and additional supplies were sent to the ship. The cause of the fire is being investigated, and the Ford is expected to be relieved by the USS George H.W. Bush.