USS Abraham Lincoln heads to Thailand after more than 250 days at sea, prompting sex-tourism concerns

The USS Abraham Lincoln is due to reach Thailand after spending more than 250 consecutive days at sea, giving nearly 5,000 sailors and Marines a chance to rest after a lengthy Middle East deployment.

The carrier is scheduled to arrive at Laem Chabang, near Pattaya, on Wednesday with two other Navy ships. Thai officials expect the visit to benefit the local economy, but it has also prompted concern about sex tourism in the resort city.

Police are preparing to increase patrols along Pattaya’s main beachfront and in nightlife districts. Authorities said raids over the weekend detained 40 to 50 people suspected of prostitution. Pattaya police chief Anek Srathongyoo said the practice remains difficult to eliminate because sex workers can offer services in public places without authorities’ knowledge.

Prostitution is illegal in Thailand but remains visible in major tourist centers, including parts of Bangkok and Pattaya. The carrier left its home port in San Diego in November and was later assigned to the Middle East to support U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran.

The unusually long deployment has also raised concerns about crew welfare. Navy Times and Stars and Stripes previously reported that some crew members had become so desperate they tried to jump overboard, while relatives expressed concern about their mental health to Navy leaders. The United States said in August that another carrier would replace the Lincoln, describing the rotation as planned before concerns about conditions aboard the ship entered the debate.

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Sex tourism is difficult to eradicate.