The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is set to dock in Thailand, near the beach resort of Pattaya, after a record 250 days at sea without a port call, giving its nearly 5,000 crew members a break.
How It Got Extended
The Lincoln departed San Diego on November 21, 2025, for a planned mission in the South China Sea before being redirected to the Middle East ahead of the US-Israel war against Iran that began February 28. That redirection turned what would have been a normal deployment into what is believed to be a record stretch at sea for a carrier of its size.
Conditions Onboard
Reports of food shortages, plumbing failures, and sailors expressing distress over the extended deployment have drawn criticism in the US in recent weeks.
What’s Next
The carrier is expected to dock Wednesday, giving the crew up to four days of rest before continuing its journey across the Pacific. Local officials in Pattaya are hoping the arrival of roughly 5,000 sailors provides a boost to tourism.
