USS George H.W. Bush carrier scheduled for Phuket port visit

The USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier and the USS Delbert D. Black guided-missile destroyer are scheduled to dock at Phuket’s Deep Sea Port from Oct 5 to 10, bringing about 5,120 US military personnel to the island, according to Patong Police.

The Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered USS George H.W. Bush carries about 4,800 personnel, while the Arleigh Burke-class USS Delbert D. Black carries about 320. The carrier is the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 10 and normally deploys with escorting warships.

Patong Police said officers met US Embassy Assistant Defence Attachés Lou Pham and Robert Robinson at Patong Police Station on Sept 29 to discuss security, public order and the movement of military personnel during shore leave. A LINE group was established to support operational coordination between Thai and US authorities, and visiting US personnel were advised to comply with Thai laws.

Phuket Tourist Police separately said representatives of the US Force Protection Detachment and the US Embassy in Bangkok had visited Phuket to coordinate security and facilitation arrangements. Preparations involve cooperation between relevant agencies and measures to maintain public order and safety in the island’s main tourist areas.