Thai resort prepares to host USS Abraham Lincoln sailors after more than 270 days at sea

US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, carrying 5,000 crew members, is set to dock in Thailand's resort city of Pattaya on Tuesday. This marks the first port call for the crew since November 2025, when the ship departed California for duty in the South China Sea. However, it was later redirected to the Middle East prior to US-Israeli attacks on Iran that began six months ago.

Pattaya, a popular rest-and-recreation destination for US troops since the Vietnam War, has ramped up security to accommodate the sailors and Marines from the USS Abraham Lincoln. Around 600 officials will provide security and necessary assistance, according to Provincial Governor Narit Niramaiwong.

The massive carrier will dock at Laem Chabang port just after midnight on Tuesday, and around 40 buses have been arranged to transport the sailors in staggered groups until their departure on Sunday. Mayor Poramase Ngampiches of Pattaya has expressed hope that the sailors' visit will bring up to 100 million Thai baht (US$3 million) to the city during its low season.

Pattaya has transformed from a sleepy fishing village into a popular destination for foreign tourists since the Vietnam War in the 1960s. However, recent crackdowns on sex workers have aroused concerns over the sailors' behavior. The mayor has banned water sports such as jet skis and discouraged the use of Thailand's lax cannabis laws, encouraging the sailors to explore the city's other attractions, including malls and religious sites.