The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) stands watch in the Indian Ocean. Porter is conducting Maritime Operations (MO) in the 5th Fleet area of operations with the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Patrick Gearhiser)
By Lt. Jim Hoeft, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs
MOMBASSA, Kenya (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) departed Mombassa Oct. 19 after a port visit that aimed to continue developing a bilateral partnership.
Porter's port call to Mombasa is the first visit of a U.S. Navy ship to the port city since guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) in 2005 and only the third ship visit since 1999.
“I couldn’t be more pleased over the visit to the port of Mombassa,” said Porter’s Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Robert Hall. “I spent several days meeting key leadership and discussed our ongoing cooperation to improve stability in the region. Our entire crew enjoyed Mombasa’s rich culture.”
Based in Norfolk, Porter has been supporting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the region since arriving in early September. Coalition maritime forces operate throughout international waters in the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
Coalition forces conduct MSO under international maritime conventions to ensure security and safety in international waters so that commercial shipping and fishing can occur safely.