USS Bush Arrives in Phuket for Rest

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush arrived off the coast of Phuket, Thailand on October 4, with approximately 4,800 personnel onboard. This marks the first port rest since the deployment began. The carrier is anchored near the shore, with personnel disembarking at Phuket Deep Water Port, and the shore leave is from October 4 to 9.

The U.S. Navy stated that the strike group has been supporting Operation Epic Fury and maritime blockade in the Central Command area since leaving Norfolk, Virginia, and Mayport, Florida in March. Accompanying the carrier is the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Delbert D. Black. The 10th Carrier Strike Group also includes USS Mason, as well as USS Ross and USS Donald Cook from the 22nd Destroyer Squadron, with the air wing being the 7th Carrier Air Wing.

This is a nuclear-powered carrier, and the stop is not for refueling. Activities include sightseeing and a friendly soccer match hosted by the ship's morale and welfare committee. Strike Group Commander Todd F. Cimicata and Captain Justin T. Issler have described the stop as a visit to Thailand, with leadership meeting Thai civilian and military officials. Sailors have already gone ashore via small boats.

The previous U.S. carrier in the same direction was USS Abraham Lincoln, which docked for five days in Laem Chabang, eastern Thailand last month, with about 5,000 sailors and Marines onboard. The local mayor estimated that each person could spend up to 3,000 Thai Baht per day, approximately $89. Thailand is the only treaty ally of the U.S. on the Southeast Asian mainland.

The carrier previously came from the Arabian Sea, and media reported its activities in the region during tensions with Iran. Phuket is a tourist island, not a naval base. The hull remains offshore while personnel enter the city, indicating that the purpose of this stop is for personnel rest, not docking. After six days, the blockade mission will continue in the Central Command area.

In market terms, the buyers are the sailors going ashore, and the sellers are the hotels, transportation, and dining in Phuket. The event is driven by six months without port calls leading to shore leave, not the end of deployment. Cash flows from onboard salaries to local services. The short-term hospitality industry benefits, while the duty roster of vessels maintaining the Middle East blockade is under pressure, as the rest window is only six days.

Source: Public Information