The U.S. Seventh Fleet's command ship USS Blue Ridge visited Jakarta's Tanjung Priok Port on Mondayon a goodwill mission and to boost U.S. and Indonesia defense relations, local press said Tuesday.
The flagship came from Thailand as part of its journey around Southeast Asia to build community relations between the U.S. navy and the navies of the Pacific and Indian Ocean countries, including Indonesia.
This is the second time the Blue Ridge has made a port call in Indonesia. The 37-year-old but technologically sophisticated ship is scheduled to sail to its next destination, Malaysia, on Wednesday.
Seventh Fleet commander Vice Admiral Doug Crowder said he would meet leaders of the Indonesian Navy and witness local cultural and art performances, as well as interacting with local citizens, reported major newspaper The Jakarta Post.
The Seventh Fleet is the largest U.S. fleet, with 40-50 ships, 120 aircraft and approximately 20,000 sailors and marines assigned at any given time.
Following the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004,the 65-year-old fleet played a major role in relief operations off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, and Thailand and Sri Lanka.
Commissioned on Nov. 14, 1970, at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Blue Ridge is equipped with one of the most sophisticated command and control systems.
The 620-foot-long ship was first operated from San Diego and since October 1979, it has been based in Yokosuka, Japan.
Source:Xinhua
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