Laem chabang: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) arrived at Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi province on Wednesday morning for a five-day scheduled port visit aimed at crew rest and recuperation following a nine-month deployment. The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered vessel arrived alongside the destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., which anchored nearby at Sriracha Harbor. Together, the two ships carry over 5,000 personnel-approximately 4,800 aboard the Abraham Lincoln and 312 aboard the destroyer.
According to Thai News Agency, local authorities in the nearby resort city of Pattaya are expecting a boost to the regional economy. Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches estimated that daily spending could reach $100 to $150 per sailor, potentially generating over 100 million baht ($3 million) during the visit. "Transportation hubs have been set up to shuttle personnel between the ports and Pattaya," Poramase said, noting that buses would run continuously throughout the day. While some sailors have permission to stay in local hotels, others will return to their ships nightly under standard operational guidelines.
Local police and tourist police have heightened security measures, deploying patrol units and monitoring surveillance systems across key nightlife and commercial areas. Meanwhile, provincial commerce officials were seen inspecting beachside businesses to ensure standard pricing for goods and services. The fleet's visit to Thailand comes after an extended deployment in the Middle East. Personnel are scheduled to begin arriving in central Pattaya by late Wednesday afternoon.