Jakarta, ThedailyID — The USS Abraham Lincoln has been described as a “floating prison” as thousands of US sailors endure an unprecedented deployment at sea.
Around 5,000 crew members have spent 263 consecutive days aboard the aircraft carrier while operating against Iran. The deployment has reportedly placed severe pressure on their mental health.
Family members and US lawmakers have raised concerns over the sailors’ welfare. They say the prolonged deployment has also exposed serious problems with the ship’s living conditions.
Reports describe broken toilets, mold-covered walls and laundry facilities that have remained out of service. Some sailors have also reportedly gone without hot water for extended periods.
The crew has now spent nine months at sea without a port visit. The deployment represents the longest continuous period at sea for the USS Abraham Lincoln in the modern era.
According to Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, several sailors have reportedly attempted to jump into the Arabian Sea. Other crew members have intervened to prevent similar incidents.
During a meeting in San Diego, around 200 family members reportedly expressed their concerns to senior Navy officials. The families said the prolonged deployment has created a growing mental health crisis.
One sailor’s wife told officials that her husband had recently sent a message saying he hoped he would not wake up the following day.
The meeting included Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao and other senior officials. One family member reportedly told Cao that the Navy had damaged trust between military families and its leadership.
Navy Times also reported details of attempted suicides aboard the carrier during its current deployment.
Annabelle Loma said her husband once tried to jump overboard after the Navy repeatedly extended his deployment.
“He was scared,” Loma said, adding that he feared an extended deployment would end his 13-year military career.
Another sailor reportedly prevented a fellow crew member from jumping by pulling them back onto the deck.
US Representative Mike Levin of California has also criticized the conditions aboard the carrier. He described moldy bathrooms, broken toilets and laundry facilities that had remained unusable for weeks.
Levin also cited prolonged shortages of hot water and basic supplies. These reportedly included soap, deodorant and toothpaste, while food portions had also become a concern.
The reports have intensified scrutiny of the US Navy’s decision to keep the USS Abraham Lincoln deployed for such an extended period. Family members and lawmakers are now calling for greater attention to the sailors’ physical and mental well-being.
