PHUKET: A nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier, the USS John C Stennis, will anchor off Phuket early next month for three days of liberty leave.
The crew of 2500 on the $4.5 billion Stennis will be joining about 1000 other sailors from two accompanying warships in three days of shore leave.
That usually means a multi-million baht boost to the Phuket economy.
US Naval attaches Matt Plouche and Charles E. Stehwien met with Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City today in advance of the visit.
Very few problems had been experienced since the US naval vessels had been coming to Phuket for liberty leave, the attaches said.
They did not mention an early issue in which local taxis blockaded the docks for a larger share of the transport of visitors from the deep sea port on Phuket's east coast to Patong, the nightlife hub, on Phuket's west coast.
The arrival of battle groups of this size often triggers an influx of ladyboy katoeys from other parts of Thailand. Patong police are usually on the alert for signs of trouble.
The Stennis is returning to Hawaii after service in the Middle East.
It wasn't made clear today whether the carrier's air wing - Navy and Marine F/A-18 Hornets, EA-6B Prowlers, MH-60R, MH-60S, and E-2C Hawkeyes - will be on board.
In January, the Stennis led the rescue of an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel, the Al Mulahi, following its seizure by pirates.
''The pirates abused the ship and Iranian flag to search for other ships to hijack, while holding the original crew hostage. When some of the pirates attempted to board a Bahamian-flagged cargo ship, Sunshine, it radioed for assistance,'' says an online report.
''The USS John C. Stennis dispatched a helicopter and cruiser to assist. A boarding party captured the pirates who attacked the Sunshine, fed them, then released them temporarily.
''A helicopter then secretly followed the pirates back to their mother ship, the Al Mulahi. The USS Kidd then boarded the fishing vessel (upon permission in Urdu from the captain), and arrested all of the pirates with no casualties.''
Other aircraft carriers to visit Phuket recently include the USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Nimitz.
Last year, a US nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine was spotted off the coast of Phuket, engaged in what's thought to have been exercises with the Royal Thai Navy, according to sources.
The crew of 2500 on the $4.5 billion Stennis will be joining about 1000 other sailors from two accompanying warships in three days of shore leave.
That usually means a multi-million baht boost to the Phuket economy.
US Naval attaches Matt Plouche and Charles E. Stehwien met with Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City today in advance of the visit.
Very few problems had been experienced since the US naval vessels had been coming to Phuket for liberty leave, the attaches said.
They did not mention an early issue in which local taxis blockaded the docks for a larger share of the transport of visitors from the deep sea port on Phuket's east coast to Patong, the nightlife hub, on Phuket's west coast.
The arrival of battle groups of this size often triggers an influx of ladyboy katoeys from other parts of Thailand. Patong police are usually on the alert for signs of trouble.
The Stennis is returning to Hawaii after service in the Middle East.
It wasn't made clear today whether the carrier's air wing - Navy and Marine F/A-18 Hornets, EA-6B Prowlers, MH-60R, MH-60S, and E-2C Hawkeyes - will be on board.
In January, the Stennis led the rescue of an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel, the Al Mulahi, following its seizure by pirates.
''The pirates abused the ship and Iranian flag to search for other ships to hijack, while holding the original crew hostage. When some of the pirates attempted to board a Bahamian-flagged cargo ship, Sunshine, it radioed for assistance,'' says an online report.
''The USS John C. Stennis dispatched a helicopter and cruiser to assist. A boarding party captured the pirates who attacked the Sunshine, fed them, then released them temporarily.
''A helicopter then secretly followed the pirates back to their mother ship, the Al Mulahi. The USS Kidd then boarded the fishing vessel (upon permission in Urdu from the captain), and arrested all of the pirates with no casualties.''
Other aircraft carriers to visit Phuket recently include the USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Nimitz.
Last year, a US nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine was spotted off the coast of Phuket, engaged in what's thought to have been exercises with the Royal Thai Navy, according to sources.
And the taxi / tuk - tuk armada goes to war...
Posted by Resident on September 21, 2012 23:32