The American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which was previously the subject of a scandal due to military complaints about conditions that arose during almost 300 days at sea, docked at the port of Laem Chabang in Thailand. The War Zone (TWZ) called the sight of rust on the sides of a “symbol of American power” “shocking,” and the Associated Press (AP) noted that many of the 5,000 “tired sailors” headed to Pattaya, Thailand, known for sex tourism.
Authorities in Pattaya, which is located an hour's drive from the port, took additional measures to combat prostitution ahead of the arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln. It is officially banned in the country, but is in demand among tourists. The AP calls the resort's reputation “a fact that cannot be denied” even as it has recently become more family-friendly.
As The Guardian notes, some of the American military personnel were accommodated in the Hard Rock Hotel, which is directly adjacent to the Soi 6 area – the 6th lane, where establishments aimed at sex tourists are located.
Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet stressed that guests from the aircraft carrier will not be allowed there at night. Another similar area, Walking Street, has already posted a neon greeting for the crew, the publication notes.
Crew members from the USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in Pattaya, Thailand, on Wednesday for a long-awaited break after more than 250 days deployed in the Middle East.
Hundreds of sailors stepped off buses carrying their bags as they began several days of shore leave. The carrier's… pic.twitter.com/eGms410fiq
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 2, 2026
TWZ, in turn, writes about “dark rust stains” and a “ring of algae” that covered the hull of the USS Abraham Lincoln. The aircraft carrier spent 286 days at sea without a full port call, which became a record for continuous deployment for the American fleet.
The US ship originally left the port of San Diego in California last November, spent time in the South China Sea, and then was sent to the Middle East to take part in operations against Iran.
“Usually the number of crew on aircraft carriers allows you to send people to monitor its appearance, but without port calls during long missions, when all efforts are aimed at maintaining military operations at a high tempo, such opportunities are limited,” the military portal noted.
As TWZ adds, President Donald Trump previously expressed dissatisfaction with the “rusty stains” on US warships, but he has not yet commented on the situation with the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Earlier, the head of the White House said that the aircraft carrier did not spend “long enough” at sea, despite the record and complaints from sailors that Senator Richard Blumenthal conveyed to the Pentagon leadership.
The military noted that their food supplies were depleted, they had problems with personal hygiene due to plumbing breakdowns, and mail from relatives did not arrive. CNN reported on suicide attempts among the crew that were averted.
