Rust and resilience: Lincoln shows wear after marathon deployment

The USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in Thailand after a marathon 286-day deployment at sea, and observers noted rust along the hull. Navy experts say surface rust on vessels spent long periods at sea is common, with about 30 days of dockside work typically needed to address it and prevent larger damage, though some upper-wulder areas can be treated underway. The voyage, which included combat operations in the Middle East and morale/supply strain reports, has also seen at least one crew member go overboard, reflecting broader challenges of extended deployments. Overall, the rust is seen as an expected consequence of the Lincoln’s lengthy at-sea duties rather than an immediate threat to its operation.