US aircraft carrier departs Thailand after five-day port call
BANGKOK — The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier departed Thailand on Sunday after a five-day port call that gave about 5,000 U.S. sailors and Marines a break following a nine-month deployment, according to AFP journalists at the scene.
The US aircraft carrier arrived Wednesday at Laem Chabang port, north of the resort city of Pattaya, for rest and recreation following a lengthy deployment in the Middle East.
The Lincoln left the port at about 11 a.m. local time (0400 GMT), AFP journalists reported.
The visit came as Pattaya enters its tourism low season, with local businesses hoping the influx of U.S. service members would boost spending in the popular beach and nightlife destination.
Security was increased in Pattaya during the visit, while authorities carried out a crackdown on sex workers ahead of the sailors’ arrival. Pattaya’s mayor denied that the measures were directly linked to the port call.
‘Everything went fine’
Local police said the visit ended largely without incident.
“Everything went fine,” Pattaya police chief Anek Srathongyoo told AFP, saying there were no arrests or major disputes apart from an argument between U.S. service members on the first day.
Two sailors were returned to the Lincoln after a drunken altercation early Thursday near Walking Street, a major nightlife area in Pattaya. Police described the incident as a minor scuffle.
The port call followed reports about difficult conditions aboard the carrier during its deployment. U.S. Democratic lawmakers last month called for an investigation into reports of food shortages, broken plumbing and mental health problems among crew members.
President Donald Trump dismissed the concerns, which had fueled criticism of the administration’s handling of the war in Iran. The USS George Washington subsequently replaced the Lincoln in the Middle East.
Economic boost for Pattaya
Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches estimated that U.S. service members spent as much as 100 million baht, or about $3 million, during their visit.
The city also benefited from sales of supplies to the ship, including toiletries, which Poramase said were worth millions of baht.
Media reports had previously said sailors aboard the Lincoln faced shortages of basic toiletries, including toothpaste, deodorant and soap, at points during their deployment.
Many sailors and Marines spent their time in Thailand shopping and visiting tourist attractions, the mayor said.
“It shows that they are missing their families and want to buy some souvenirs for them,” Poramase told AFP.
