By Petty Officer 2nd Class (SW) David Holmes,
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa  Print     Share  

DURBAN, South Africa - USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) sailors and local South African marine service members secure mooring lines to the pier during a port visit in Durban on July 13, 2009. Arleigh Burke is in Durban to kick off a series of cooperative at-sea and ashore evolutions with the South African Navy as part of a scheduled military-to-military engagement between the two navies. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class David Holmes)

DURBAN, South Africa - Durban's Harbor Master Rufus Lekala (front left) discusses the layout of local channels with Captain Jim Tranoris (rear left), commander, Task Force 363, and Commander Bob Moum (top right), commanding officer of USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), on July 13, 2009. Crew members of Arleigh Burke are in Durban to kick off a series of cooperative at-sea and ashore evolutions with the South African Navy as part of a scheduled military-to-military engagement between the two navies. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class David Holmes)

DURBAN, South Africa - Captain Jim Tranoris, commander, Task Force 363, meets with Obed Mlaba, mayor of Durban, during a port visit July 13, 2009. Tranoris and other Navy officials from USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) met with the mayor as part of office calls held with local officials. Arleigh Burke is in Durban to kick off a series of cooperative at-sea and ashore evolutions with the South African Navy as part of a scheduled military-to-military engagement between the two navies. . (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class David Holmes)

DURBAN, South Africa, 

Jul 13, 2009 — USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) arrived in the port city of Durban, South Africa, July 13, 2009 to kick off a range of ashore and at-sea cooperative activities in the coming weeks between the two nations' navies.

During Arleigh Burke's visit, office calls with local officials will take place as well as various at-sea evolutions geared to enhance maritime interoperability.

"It's always great when two partner nations can schedule meaningful and productive events such as these," said Captain James Tranoris, Commander, Task Force 363. "It not only enhances the professional element of each of our navies' ability to work with one another for a safer maritime domain, but renews the strong ties of partnership we have with South Africa. For some of our Sailors, this will be their first time interacting with the South African Navy. It's a superb opportunity for them to make new friends and learn how another foreign navy operates."

Arleigh Burke, a guided missile destroyer home-ported in Norfolk, Virginia, is on a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. The ship has supported various partnership building operations and training through Africa Partnership Station port visits in Djibouti and Kenya and is scheduled to continue similar port visits to Mauritius and Tanzania in the coming months.