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US 7th Fleet sailors, Marines here to conduct exercises and explore logistics support services
View(s):As part of a growing United States-Sri Lanka naval partnership, amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23), with the embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), arrived in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, for a scheduled port visit on Friday, the US embassy in Colombo said.
The visit follows the Sri Lankan Navy’s inaugural participation in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), which concluded on August 2, as well as exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Sri Lanka, held for the first time last year.
The visit offers US sailors and Marines the opportunity to explore the local area and meet their counterparts during exercises with the Sri Lankan Navy and Marines, the statement said. The visit is also an opportunity for US Seventh Fleet to explore local logistics support services for visiting naval forces operating throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
Welcoming the arrival of the USS Anchorage, Robert Hilton, US embassy Chargé d’affairs, said that this visit and training would build shared capacity to respond to humanitarian emergencies in the Indo-Pacific region. “We’re also excited to try out the air logistics hub concept which utilises Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean to ensure the quick availability of relief supplies, equipment and other material when needed by the US and partner militaries and humanitarian organisations.”
Rear Adm. Brad Cooper, commander, Amphibious Force U.S. 7th Fleet said that the US Navy and Marine Corps team is deeply committed to continuing to strengthen partnership with the Sri Lankan armed forces. “We are proud of the tremendous work the American Sailors and Marines are doing alongside their Sri Lankan teammates.”
About 300 Sri Lankan naval academy midshipmen and 40 distinguished visitors, will tour Anchorage to learn about the ship’s amphibious capabilities. Additionally, sailors and Marines will conduct training in visit, board, search and seizure, security force reaction techniques with the Sri Lankan Navy and Marines.
Captain Jacko, commanding officer of Anchorage emphasised the damage control training that will occur during the visit. “The US Navy damage control programme is the world’s most proficient, and I’m excited to be a part of sharing our best practices with the Sri Lankan Navy. I’m also very pleased to be able to return to Sri Lanka since visiting in 2010 on USS Pearl Harbor.”
In addition to the professional exchanges, sailors and Marines will take part in sporting events, including baseball, soccer, basketball and volleyball.
Anchorage, which is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), and the 13th MEU are deployed to the 7th fleet area of operations to support regional stability, reassure partners and allies and maintain a presence postured to respond to any crisis ranging from humanitarian assistance to contingency operations.