The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived in Thailand after spending a record 250 days at sea without a port stop, offering its nearly 5,000 crew members time ashore near the resort city of Pattaya.
The carrier had departed San Diego in November for an assignment expected to last six months in the Pacific and South China Sea. Its deployment changed after the United States and Israel began military operations against Iran in late February, when the vessel was redirected to the Gulf.
The prolonged time at sea prompted concern among some members of the US Congress, following reports of food shortages, faulty toilets and mental stress aboard the ship. The US Navy said conditions had been difficult but maintained that personnel had received sufficient support. It declined to comment on the Pattaya visit, citing operational security.
Break for crew and boost for businesses
The ship is docked close to Pattaya, a city known for nightlife and sex tourism, as well as its historic links to US military personnel who visited during the Vietnam War. Local businesses are hoping the arrival of thousands of sailors and marines will provide a lift at a time when the Iran war has affected tourism and consumer spending.
Anon Saiteer, a gem seller near Walking Street, said the visit represented an important opportunity for traders. His shop has displayed a welcome sign and offered a discount to US service members.
Thailand, despite its close relationship with China, is a US treaty ally and regularly hosts visits by US Navy vessels. According to the report, this may be the largest arrival in Pattaya of US military personnel coming directly from a war zone since the fall of Saigon in 1975.
Restrictions and security measures
US and Thai authorities have put arrangements in place for the shore leave. Thai officials said some areas would be off limits, including Soi 6, a street near the main beach known for its concentration of go-go bars. Cannabis shops, paragliding and jet-ski activities are also prohibited for crew members.
Thai police have reminded visitors that prostitution is technically illegal in the country. The report said estimates put the number of sex workers in Pattaya between 25,000 and 50,000. Hundreds of police officers have been deployed in entertainment areas, while businesses have been warned not to overcharge American visitors.
US Naval Attache Kristopher Robinson said personnel would follow US law, Navy regulations and Thai law. Shuttle buses are scheduled to operate between the port and Pattaya from 5am until 2am each day during the visit, and two hotels have been designated for crew members staying ashore.
Mayor Poramase Ngampiches said the city hoped to demonstrate that Pattaya offered sports, seminars, wellness and family-oriented activities alongside its better-known nightlife. The carrier is expected to begin its return journey across the Pacific on 6 September.
Source: BBC News
