USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) arrived in Kenya's second largest city June 17, 2009 for a six-day port visit as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS).

APS is an international initiative led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa. The initiative is aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and other collaborative activities with African partners with the ultimate goal of improving maritime safety and security for the continent of Africa.

During Arleigh Burke's visit to Mombasa and additional ports in the region, the ship and crew will host a combination of classroom and hands-on practical applications. Training teams will work with local partners in cooperative training events such as search and rescue, small boat maintenance, hydrology and visit, board, search and seizure exercises.

"I'm thrilled to have our dynamic team here in Mombasa, and I'm looking forward to continuing the great partnerships we have here," said Captain Jim Tranoris, commodore of APS Arleigh Burke. "The cooperative activities we have planned with our African partners will continue to aide the capacity of theater security cooperation and reinforce the groundwork of maritime safety and security in the region."

Arleigh Burke, a guided missile destroyer homeported in Norfolk, Va., is the second APS platform to visit South and East Africa, and is scheduled to make additional stops in Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles and South Africa.