USS Abraham Lincoln arrives in Thailand after 286 days at sea
Nearly 5,000 sailors will spend five days in Pattaya under Thai restrictions; some areas are off‑limits.
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has docked in Thailand after a record 286 days at sea, arriving with a crew of nearly 5,000 sailors for a scheduled five-day period of rest and recuperation, Thai authorities said.
The carrier was deployed in November last year and took part in a U.S. maritime blockade and combat operations against Iran. Normal carrier deployments typically last between six and nine months, but can be extended during periods of conflict.
Port visit and local restrictions
Accompanied by other U.S. warships, the carrier will remain in Thailand for five days for rest and recuperation. Thailand became an ally of the United States with a 1954 pact and was designated a major non‑NATO ally in 2003.
Authorities said the arrival of thousands of service members could give an economic boost to Pattaya, a beach city long known for sex tourism. Thai police remind American visitors that prostitution is technically illegal in Thailand, while local estimates put the number of sex workers in the city between 25,000 and 50,000.
Thai officials also announced several sites will be off‑limits to American sailors. One is Soi 6, which runs to the main beach and is known for its concentration of provocative bars. Water sports and cannabis shops are likewise officially prohibited for the visiting sailors.
Last month, military outlets Navy Times and Stars and Stripes reported multiple attempts by sailors to jump from the Lincoln amid poor conditions and heightened mental stress. The crew had only two days ashore after the ship sailed from San Diego on 21 November.
Photo: АП)
