The colorful four-day visit concludes! More than 5,000 U.S. Navy personnel gradually packed their belongings and boarded the USS Abraham Lincoln after resting and touring Pattaya city. The ship weighed anchor from Laem Chabang Port today.
Today (6 September 2026 GMT+7), reporters described the atmosphere in Pattaya, Chonburi Province, following the arrival of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) with approximately 5,000 U.S. Navy personnel. They docked at Laem Chabang Port and were allowed to disembark to rest and tour Pattaya city from 2 to 6 September.
Throughout the evening of 5 September, U.S. personnel gradually left hotels and tourist spots with their belongings before boarding buses arranged to return to Laem Chabang Port. They boarded the ship smoothly to prepare for departure from Thailand after completing their visit and rest in Pattaya.
The personnel's return to the ship involved close coordination among related agencies, including Laem Chabang Port, Pattaya city, local administration, police, and security forces, to facilitate traffic and ensure safety from hotels and pickup points through the routes leading to the port.
Mr. Weerachat Puttharaksa, Deputy Director of Laem Chabang Port; Mr. Poramet Ngampichet, Mayor of Pattaya; Mr. Anusak Piriyaom, Bang Lamung District Chief; and Ms. Patchanan Phongphad, Sriracha District Chief, along with local administration, police, and related agencies, prepared and coordinated operations, especially along routes and areas around Laem Chabang Port, a key point for personnel returning to the ship.
During the four-day visit, the U.S. personnel’s excursions brought liveliness to Pattaya with trips to tourist sites, restaurants, shopping areas, economic centers, and nightlife spots. This resulted in increased income for local businesses from the personnel’s spending.
This morning, relevant officials continued to prepare for facilitation and security before USS Abraham Lincoln’s departure from Laem Chabang Port. This marked the end of the U.S. Navy ship and personnel’s visit to Thailand, which had enlivened and stimulated Pattaya’s economy throughout the past four days.