PHUKET, Thailand – Two United States Navy warships have arrived off Phuket for a visit from October 4 to 9, bringing a combined 5,109 US personnel to the province. The vessels will anchor offshore near the Phuket Deep Sea Port in Wichit, Mueang Phuket district, during the five-day visit. The arrival is expected to bring thousands of US sailors ashore for recreation and tourism in Phuket.
The two warships are the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), a large aircraft carrier carrying about 4,820 personnel, and the USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer carrying about 289 personnel.
The aircraft carrier will anchor about 1.78 nautical miles, or approximately 3.3 kilometers, from Phuket Deep Sea Port. Fourteen personnel transport boats will be used to transfer US sailors between the warships and Phuket during the visit. The Phuket Marine Office has inspected the area and is coordinating with relevant agencies to manage marine traffic and facilitate the movement of personnel between the ships and shore. Thai police and other agencies will also provide security, traffic management and assistance for US personnel while they are in Phuket. The visit will allow the sailors to spend time in Phuket’s tourism areas before the two vessels depart on October 9.
