- The carrier docked at Laem Chabang on the Gulf of Thailand for a multi-day port visit, giving crew their first full rest-and-relaxation call after the marathon deployment.
- Observers were shocked by the rust-covered appearance of the USS Abraham Lincoln when it arrived in Thailand, with the nearly 1,100-foot-long warship covered in rust from bow to stern.
- Experts say the rust is expected after the Navy reported 286 days at sea since the Lincoln left San Diego last November.
- The long deployment also led to reports of morale problems amid supply shortages, but President Donald Trump dismissed concerns, saying the deployment was 'not nearly long enough.'
- Former US Navy captain Carl Schuster noted that rust along the waterline is not unusual after 60 days or more of continuous operations at sea.
- Rust removal cannot be done at sea, especially during combat operations; crews must be lowered to the waterline, sand off the rust, apply two coats of rust-preventative primer and then two coats of naval gray paint, according to Schuster.
- Schuster estimated that removing all the rust would require about 30 days of preservation work.
- Schuster compared rust to a contagious disease that spreads, emphasizing the need to deal with it early to avoid a larger problem.
- He warned that rust weakens steel structures, so it must be removed before it impacts components like decks, walkways, and lifelines.
The USS Abraham Lincoln, a nearly 1,100-foot aircraft carrier, arrived in Thailand on Wednesday after a grueling 286 days at sea, shocking observers with its rust-covered hull. Experts attribute the deterioration to the lengthy deployment, which began last November from San Diego.23
According to Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain, rust along the waterline is common for ships that have been at sea for extended periods. He stated, “Rust along the waterline is not unusual on a ship that has spent 60 days or more of operations continuously at sea.” Tackling the rust issue is challenging during combat operations, as crews must sand off the rust and apply protective coatings, a process that could take about 30 days of preservation work.6
The Lincoln docked at Laem Chabang, south of Bangkok, for a visit expected to last several days, providing crew members their first full rest-and-relaxation port call after a marathon deployment. Schuster noted that during this seven-day port visit, only high-priority work would be done, focusing on the bow and forward hull areas, which endure the most wear.1
He warned, “Rust is like a contagious disease. It spreads. So, it is better to deal with it early to contain it or deal with a much larger problem later.” The long deployment has also led to reports of morale issues amid supply shortages, although US President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns, stating the Lincoln’s deployment was “not nearly long enough.”459
“Experts say the rust is expected after 286 days at sea, and removal would require about 30 days of preservation work, starting with the bow and forward hull. The deployment also sparked morale problems amid supply shortages, but President Trump dismissed concerns, saying it was 'not nearly long enough.'”
