Thailand – The rust-streaked US Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in eastern Thailand following 286 days at sea, marking the crew’s first port call in more than eight months.

Docking at Laem Chabang port near Pattaya, the vessel displayed visible signs of heavy wear, featuring large dark blotches of rust along its hull and near the flight deck edge.

Defence experts noted that the rusty exterior reflected the intense strains of a prolonged combat deployment without regular port stops.

However, the commanding officer stated that the ship’s weathered appearance was completely normal for a continuous long-duration deployment, while local businesses welcomed the arrival of the sailors for much-needed shore leave.

Al Jazeera