The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier arrived in Thailand on Wednesday bearing the wear-and-tear of its deployment in the form of rusted metal and deteriorating paint.
The ship arrived in Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi province, where U.S. sailors serving on the ship have disembarked after a record-setting 286-day deployment near the Strait of Hormuz. It was relieved last month by the USS George Washington.
It had been serving as a major part of the U.S. blockade at the Strait of Hormuz. The stop in Thailand’s Pattaya City is intended to give the ship's sailors and Marines some rest and relaxation and comes amid a series of news stories detailing the challenging conditions on their ship.
“Our arrival in Laem Chabang provides a well-deserved opportunity for our sailors and Marines to rest and recharge,” Rear Admiral Robert E. Loughran, commander of Carrier Strike Group 3, said in a statement. “It also underscores the strong and enduring partnership and alliance between the United States and Thailand.”
The families of some sailors told Task & Purpose that loved ones serving on the ship were reporting food shortages. A Navy spokesperson told Task & Purpose that no meals were missed and the issues appear to have changed following international news reports about the issue.
At least one sailor leapt off the USS Abraham Lincoln, according to the Military Times, and two others were intercepted and stopped before they could make the leap.
Vice Admiral Joseph Cahill, commander of Naval Surface Forces, held a virtual meeting with servicemembers' families in early August to assure them the Navy was aware of the mental strain facing the sailors.
“We hear you loud and clear [regarding] the impact this has on families, on service members and the long-term ability of us to stand, sustain our forces’ health,” Cahill said, according to MS NOW.
The ship’s uninterrupted 286 total days at sea without a full port visit is believed to be a record.
Back in Thailand, Ford pickup trucks and buses lined up at the port to pick up sailors and Marines to drive them into town.
The arrival of the U.S. military members will be welcome news for business owners in Pattaya City. The tourism-reliant coastal city said the ship's visit is expected to pour approximately $3 million into the local economy, according to NBC News.
Each sailor or Marine could spend 1,000 to 3,000 baht per day ($30 to $91), depending on how long they're ashore and whether they decide to spend the night, Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches said in a statement.
But an R&R stop, especially after a long and grueling deployment, can also bring problems. Authorities in Pattaya are increasing the city's police patrols and security presence, and NBC News reports that one of the ship's commanding officers were instructing sailors and Marines to behave themselves over a megaphone as they were leaving the ship.
Local law enforcement has already started cracking down on prostitution in the city, noting in a warning to locals that police will be watching popular nightlife spots and conducting raids while the ship is in port. Police said they've already rounded up 40 or 50 people.
The USS Abraham Lincoln will remain in Thailand for five days before it begins its journey back to its home port of San Diego.
The Independent has requested comment from the Defense Department.
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