The US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln will dock in Thailand next week, a Thai official said on Tuesday, following a prolonged deployment in West Asia and reports of mental health concerns and deteriorating conditions aboard.

The Lincoln, which left West Asia on Saturday, has not made a port call in more than 200 days, setting a modern-day record for consecutive days at sea, according to Democratic lawmakers. Typically, naval deployments last between six and nine months, but they can be extended during war.

The ship, which has roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard, will be in Thailand for "rest and recreation after their long sea journey", the official said, asking not to be named.

Thailand's Navy said a US Navy carrier strike group would make a brief stop in eastern Thailand for rest and recuperation, with no exercises taking place. It did not name the three vessels or provide a date for the visit, citing security concerns. "The stop is a routine port visit intended to allow personnel to rest and recuperate ... as well as to receive logistical support," the Thai Navy's spokesperson said in a statement.

The Lincoln left its home port of San Diego in November and was later redirected to West Asia to support attacks in the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Source:Websites