USS Abraham Lincoln leaves Thailand after five‑day port call, hull cleaned of algae and rust
The nuclear‑powered carrier arrived earlier in the week after a 285‑day deployment, its hull having been covered in algae and rust. Thai port workers blasted away much of the growth, leaving the ship noticeably cleaner before it departed Sunday following a five‑day stop that gave roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines brief shore leave in Pattaya. Crew members described the tour as grueling, noting long 12‑hour shifts, occasional hunger and the lack of Wi‑Fi for security reasons, and many said they would not reenlist. Captain Dan Keeler thanked the Thai people for their hospitality.
How this was covered
- Right-leaning coverage is the most divided on this story
Why it matters
The episode highlights the maintenance and morale challenges of extended carrier deployments for both the ship and its crew.
How the sides frame it
LOW AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage stresses crew hardship, morale and mental-health problems, while right-leaning coverage highlights the ship’s rust-and-algae condition, security measures and the strategic/economic benefits of the visit; Centrist coverage sits between, describing sailors’ shore leave and the local economic impact while noting security and sex-tourism concerns.
LEFT
Focuses on the grueling length of the deployment, crew suffering and morale decline, and critiques Navy handling of supplies and mental-health issues.
CENTER
Reports the port call as a brief leisure break for the crew, notes the boost to local tourism and mentions security steps and sex-tourism concerns without strong judgment.
RIGHT
Emphasizes the ship’s deteriorated hull, security crackdowns, and frames the visit as a strategic partnership that benefits the Thai economy.
The left emphasises
- crew endured 250-plus days at sea with limited food, Wi-Fi and mental-health strain
- sailors described the deployment as the worst and many said they would not reenlist
- criticism of Navy’s downplaying of supply and morale issues
The right emphasises
- hull covered in rust and algae, cleaned by Thai port workers
- security measures and police raids on sex-workers highlighted
- the stop underscored the strategic US-Thailand partnership and economic boost
How this story developed
- Aug 20 USS George Washington sails to Middle East, relieving USS Abraham Lincoln after long deployment
- Aug 24 DHS emphasized that having a relative in the military does not exempt illegal entry from enforcement.
- Aug 25 The carrier’s scheduled Thailand port call was announced.
- Aug 25 ICE no longer treats having a family member in the military as a mitigating factor in immigration cases.
- Aug 26 Families of sailors received texts confirming the Thailand port call.
- Aug 26 Aviles Roa was released from ICE custody after three days of detention.
- Aug 27 Completed a 266‑day deployment, including 200 days in a combat theater.
- Aug 30 The carrier’s itinerary now includes a scheduled stop in Thailand.
- Aug 31 The deployment reached eight months at sea, the longest recent U.S. naval deployment.
- Sep 2 USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in Laem Chabang, Thailand after 286 days at sea.
- Sep 2 Reports revised the carrier's time at sea to over 250 consecutive days.
- Sep 2 The deployment was confirmed to have lasted 286 days, longer than earlier estimates.
- Sep 6 Thai police launched a prostitution crackdown in the days before the carrier’s arrival.
- Sep 6 The carrier departed Thailand after the five‑day stop.
Related stories
7 in this thread