BANGKOK, Thailand: The USS Abraham Lincoln docked at Laem Chabang in eastern Thailand on September 2 after 286 days at sea, marking its first full port stop of the deployment.
The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier carries about 5,000 service members, according to the Associated Press. Its deployment included operations in support of U.S. military action against Iran in the Middle East.
A U.S. Embassy statement said the Lincoln strike group arrived in Chonburi province after more than nine months at sea. The deployment also included more than 250 uninterrupted days at sea, setting a record for the carrier.
Captain Dan Keeler, the Lincoln’s commanding officer, said visible wear on the ship was normal after such a long deployment. AP journalists reported patches of rust on parts of the hull and around the flight deck.
The USS George Washington relieved the Lincoln in the Middle East in August, allowing the carrier to begin its return toward its U.S. base.
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Other ships in the strike group also reached eastern Thailand. The USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. docked at Sriracha, while the USS Robert Smalls arrived at Map Ta Phut in neighbouring Rayong province, according to the U.S. Embassy.
Read: US Aircraft Carrier Heads to the Middle East to Relieve Lincoln
Many Lincoln crew members are expected to spend leave in Pattaya during the stop. Thai officials said the visit would provide rest and recovery for personnel and could also support the local tourism economy. Authorities in Pattaya said they had increased security measures for the visit.
