Topline
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln docked in Thailand on Wednesday, its first port call after spending nearly nine months at sea as part of military operations in the Middle East, amid controversy over the living conditions of crew on board the vessel and concerns about a brewing mental health crisis.
US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) heads towards Laem Chabang Port, near the city of Pattaya.
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
The aircraft carrier docked in the port of Laem Chabang, near the city of Pattaya, which has been a popular mid-deployment rest-and-relaxation spot for U.S. forces for several years.
The U.S. embassy in Bangkok confirmed the arrival of USS Lincoln and some other elements of the strike group at the port, while noting that some other US Navy ships have docked at nearby ports.
The ship’s commanding officer, Captain Dan Keeler, said the ship’s crew are all “very excited to make Thailand the first port visit on our historic deployment.”
The commander of the Carrier Strike Group, Rear Adm. Robert E. Loughran, said the port call will provide a “well-deserved opportunity” for sailors and Marines to “rest and recharge.”
Citing Pattaya’s Mayor Poramet Ngampichet, the New York Times reported that the ship’s crew members are expected to take a bus to the city and many have already booked hotels.
big number
286 days. That is the number of days the USS Lincoln has spent at sea without a full port call. After departing San Diego in November last year. The ship made a one-day stop in Guam on December 12, but has been at sea since then, making it the longest such modern naval deployment without a port call.
key background
The Lincoln’s nearly nine-month-long stint at sea is one of the longest deployments for a U.S. vessel since the Cold War. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was initially deployed in the Pacific, but later moved to the Middle East at the start of this year to support the war in Iran. In the past few weeks, several reports have flagged concerns about the conditions of crew onboard amid the extended deployment. Last month, The Navy Times reported that multiple sailors have attempted to jump overboard the ship—raising mental health concerns. Stars and Stripes also reported of at least one such instance of someone trying to jump off board as well. Last month, a group of Democratic Senators wrote to Navy Secretary Hung Cao complaining about “widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns and disruptions in the mail system.”
Tangent
Ahead of the ship’s arrival, local authorities in Pattaya carried out a large-scale crackdown on sex workers in the city and detained dozens of women. Sex workers are common in Pattaya; however, prostitution remains illegal in Thailand. Police officials have also said they will conduct additional patrols to address the issue. The city‘s mayor has also said the arriving sailors will be barred from participating in certain activities in the city, including “water sports, jet skiing, bungee jumping, wrestling, and boxing.” Despite this, local officials hope the arrival of soldiers will boost the local economy, with Ngampichet estimating that each sailor could spend between THB 1,000-3,000 ($30 to $91) per day for the duration of their stay.
further reading
Trump Calls USS Abraham Lincoln’s Mental Health Crisis ‘Fake Report’ (Forbes)
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