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.