An impressive American naval presence in Split.
On Thursday, reporters were given a tour of USS Porter, which is part of the Sixth Fleet of the US Navy and which has been docked since Wednesday at the Lora Military Base in Split. It will remain on an official visit to the Croatian Navy until 31 October, reports Vecernji List on October 30, 2015.
The ship was also visited by the commander of American Sixth Fleet, Vice Admiral James G. Foggo, commander of the Croatian Navy, Commodore Predrag Stipanović, American Ambassador to Croatia Julieta Valls Noyes and mayor of Split Ivo Baldasar.
Commodore Stipanović pointed out that the visit of the destroyer from the American Sixth Fleet to Split is just another step in the improvement of relations between the navies of Croatia and the United States. Vice Admiral Foggo stressed that the American destroyer is important for maintaining safety at sea. He announced that on Friday he will discuss the cooperation between the US Navy and the Croatian Navy with Croatian defence minister Ante Kotromanović and Croatian Navy commander Predrag Stipanović.
The US Embassy announced that the visit of the US destroyer to Croatia has a goal of improving relations between the US and Croatia, the two countries which “work together for a stable, secure and prosperous region. American Sixth Fleet, based in Naples in Italy, performs an entire spectrum of joint maritime operations, often in concert with allies and international partners, to enhance security and stability in Europe and Africa”, the US Embassy said.
Officers on the American destroyer reported that on Wednesday they organized a joint exercise with 14 members of the Croatian Navy in order to practice tactical movements and procedures at sea. The members of the Croatian Navy were also introduced to the weapons on the destroyer.
Commander Blair Guy said the American ship is equipped with anti-aircraft rockets and missiles, as well as with rockets and missiles for actions against other vessels, including submarines. “We are well equipped and we can see everything”, Guy said to journalists demonstrating the ship’s radar systems.
USS Porter is 155 meters long, weights around 9,000 tons and it currently has nearly 400 crew members. During the visit, crew members have staged a demonstration drill of defence of the ship against possible incursions by undesirable groups which could pose a security threat.
American destroyer has spent the last four months patrolling the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. After the visit to Split, USS Porter will sail to its home port in Spain.
