US warships arrive in Phuket for 6-day visit
The nuclear aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119) are scheduled to leave on Friday.Officials said the carrier had anchored about 1.78 nautical…
Source: Bangkok Post · October 4, 2026 at 8:32 AM · AI-assisted report
Single-source
PHUKET, THAILAND (PHUKET DEEP SEA PORT, WICHIT TAMBON), 4 OCTOBER 2026 —
The nuclear aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN‑77) and the guided‑missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black (DDG‑119) arrived in Phuket on Monday, anchoring about 1.78 nautical miles (roughly 3.3 kilometres) from Phuket Deep Sea Port in tambon Wichit of Muang Phuket district. The two vessels carry a combined complement of 5,109 personnel, with 4,820 aboard the carrier and 289 on the destroyer, and are scheduled to depart on Friday.
Market Impact
The visit is expected to bring a significant economic boost to the island. Local officials estimated that the five‑day stop pumped about 100 million baht into the local economy.
Fourteen local ferry boats will shuttle personnel between the ships and the shore throughout the visit, and police and local agencies have prepared security, traffic‑management and support measures for the large influx of visiting sailors, who are expected to spend their time on the island sightseeing and enjoying local attractions.
Phuket authorities last week finalised security and logistical arrangements with US embassy officials ahead of the visit, while reminding visiting sailors to comply with Thai law during their stay.
Among those welcoming the ships were Luu Pham, assistant force protection attaché at the US embassy in Thailand; Pol Col Somsak Thongkliang, chief of Wichit police station; and Adul Raluekmoon, director of the Phuket Regional Marine Office. The USS George H.W. Bush has completed deployment in the Arabian Sea, participating in conflict with Iran, since leaving Norfolk, Virginia, in March.
The nuclear carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its escort visited Pattaya last month after a similar deployment.
The arrival of the USS George H.W. Bush and USS Delbert D. Black in Phuket underscores the continued presence of US naval forces in Southeast Asia and highlights the economic impact of such visits on local communities. The ships are set to leave on Friday, concluding a six‑day visit that has already generated significant local revenue and reinforced diplomatic ties between the United States and Thailand.