BANGKOK, Sept 7: The USS Abraham Lincoln, a US Navy aircraft carrier carrying around 5,000 sailors and Marines, departed Thailand on Sunday after completing a five-day port visit that offered its crew a break following a lengthy deployment in the Middle East.
The carrier docked at Laem Chabang, north of the resort city of Pattaya and about a half-hour drive from the popular tourist destination, on Wednesday. The visit was described as a period of rest and recreation for personnel who had spent around nine months at sea.
The aircraft carrier left Laem Chabang at approximately 11:00 am local time (0400 GMT), according to AFP journalists at the port.
The arrival of thousands of US military personnel came during Thailand’s tourism low season and was welcomed by businesses in Pattaya, a major coastal destination known for its beaches, nightlife and entertainment industry.
Police report largely incident free visit
Thai authorities increased security measures in Pattaya during the sailors’ stay. Police also stepped up enforcement against sex workers ahead of the visit, although the city’s mayor rejected suggestions that the measures were specifically connected to the arrival of the US sailors.
Pattaya police chief Anek Srathongyoo said the visit concluded without major incidents.
“Everything went fine,” Anek told AFP, adding that there were no significant arrests or disputes apart from an argument involving American sailors on the first day.
Two US sailors were reportedly returned to the carrier following a drunken altercation near Walking Street, one of Pattaya’s busiest nightlife areas, during the early hours of Thursday.
Anek had earlier described the incident as a minor scuffle and said local residents contacted police to prevent the disagreement from escalating.
Visit follows concerns over onboard conditions
The Thailand stop came amid scrutiny of living conditions aboard the Lincoln after several US Democratic lawmakers called for an investigation into reports of food shortages, plumbing problems and mental health difficulties among personnel during the carrier’s extended deployment.
US President Donald Trump dismissed the concerns. The Abraham Lincoln had been deployed in the Middle East during the conflict with Iran before being replaced in the region by the USS George Washington.
The reports had also highlighted shortages of basic personal-care products on board, including toothpaste, deodorant and soap.
Sailors boost Pattaya businesses
The carrier’s visit provided a financial boost to Pattaya’s tourism and retail sectors.
Mayor Poramase Ngampiches estimated that the US personnel spent as much as 100 million baht, equivalent to about $3 million, during their stay.
He said businesses also benefited from sales of supplies to the ship, including toiletries such as toothpaste, worth millions of baht.
Many sailors and Marines spent their free time shopping, visiting tourist attractions and exploring the coastal city.
Poramase said the spending reflected the sailors’ desire to reconnect with their families through souvenirs and other purchases.
The departure of the Abraham Lincoln marks the end of a closely watched port call that combined crew recreation, local economic activity and heightened security measures in one of Thailand’s busiest tourist destinations.