USS Abraham Lincoln arrives covered in rust after 286 days at sea, but did corrosion affect the carrier’s combat capabilities?

After 286 days at sea and months of combat and operations in the Middle East in the ongoing US-Iran war, the USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in Thailand this week looking markedly weathered, with extensive rust visible across the nearly 1,100-foot-long aircraft carrier.

The appearance of the Nimitz-class carrier after months of deployment, including combat and blockade operations against Iran in the Middle East, has posed a question about one of the US Navy's oldest and most persistent maintenance challenges: does corrosion merely make a warship look neglected, or can it eventually affect its ability to fight?

Experts cited by CNN say the rust seen on the Abraham Lincoln is not necessarily evidence that the carrier's combat capabilities have been compromised. But they also warn that corrosion is a problem the Navy cannot afford to ignore.

Why the USS Abraham Lincoln was covered in rust

The Abraham Lincoln docked at the port of Laem Chabang, on the Gulf of Thailand, south of Bangkok, for a visit expected to last several days, giving crew members their first full rest-and-relaxation port call after the marathon deployment.

The carrier had spent 286 days at sea since leaving its homeport of San Diego last November. Prolonged exposure to saltwater, waves and harsh marine conditions can accelerate corrosion, particularly along areas repeatedly exposed to seawater.

Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain who completed three tours on Nimitz-class carriers like the Lincoln, told CNN, “Rust along the waterline is not unusual on a ship that has spent 60 days or more of operations continuously at sea.”

Tackling extensive corrosion, however, is not something that can easily be done while a carrier is at sea, particularly during combat operations.

Crews would need to be lowered to the waterline, sand off the rust, apply two coats of rust-preventative primer, and then two coats of naval gray paint, according to Schuster.

“Based on what I am seeing, you are looking at about 30 days of preservation work to remove all the rust,” he added.

Did the rust affect the carrier's ability to fight?

The visible corrosion may look alarming, but it has little to do with Abraham Lincoln's ability to conduct combat operations. A warship can continue operating while corrosion develops on exposed parts of its hull and superstructure.

The more serious concern is what happens when corrosion is allowed to spread and begins damaging critical steel structures and components.

“Rust is like a contagious disease. It spreads. So, it is better to deal with it early to contain it or deal with a much larger problem later,” Schuster said.

“It weakens any steel structure it attacks. So, you have to remove it before it has a decisive impact on your components” like decks, walkways and lifelines, he said.

Trump administration pushes a new anti-rust campaign

The extensive rust visible on the Abraham Lincoln also comes as the US Navy is expanding efforts to address corrosion across its surface fleet. Writing over at Defence Blog on December 2, Colton Jones, a former member of the United States Air Force, reported on the Navy’s new plan to expand corrosion-control work across surface combatants and amphibious ships.

The Surface Ship Corrosion Mitigation Program “will identify specific ships and maintenance periods for each assessment event, using what the Navy describes as a ‘window of opportunity,” writes Jones.

Naval Surface Force, Atlantic, is expected to play a central role in the program, which will be tailored for eight combatant ships and four amphibious ships. The effort will include regular assessments and corrosion-control support, while the Navy is also seeking sufficient corrosion-inhibiting products to support selected vessels.