LAEM CHABANG, Thailand, Sept 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The USS Abraham Lincoln, the US aircraft carrier at the centre of a political row over conditions on board after months at sea, arrived off a Thai port Wednesday, AFP reporters saw.

The huge nuclear-powered ship was spotted ahead of its expected entry into Laem Chabang port near Pattaya, south of Bangkok, the first visit on land for its 5,000 crew since November.

The Lincoln left California in November 2025 for duty in the South China Sea and was rerouted to the Middle East before US-Israeli attacks on Iran that began six months ago.

Reports of deteriorating living conditions and poor mental health on board -- including attempted suicides -- have made headlines in the United States, provoking criticism of President Donald Trump's war against Iran.

The resort city of Pattaya, a rest-and-recreation destination for US troops since the Vietnam War, has stepped up security as it prepares to welcome the sailors and Marines.

The city has become hugely popular with foreign tourists, known for its beaches and a nightlife scene that has long drawn scrutiny over sex tourism.

Pattaya's mayor, Poramase Ngampiches, said there had been a recent crackdown on sex workers but denied it was linked to the US arrivals.

Outside one bar was a sign saying "Welcome all US military personnel. Thank you for your service".

The mayor said buses have been laid on to transport the sailors from the ship to Pattaya and back until the carrier departs on Sunday.

"They come to relax," Poramase said in a Facebook post this week.

"Our preparations will focus on safety and ensuring fair pricing, so we don't take advantage of them."

He said they have been banned from water sports such as jet skis, and from taking advantage of Thailand's lax cannabis laws -- but encouraged them to enjoy the city's many other attractions, from malls to religious sites.