U.S. Naval Cruiser USS Port Royal Visits Jakarta

December 26, 2007

U.S. Naval Cruiser USS Port Royal Visits Jakarta

U.S. Navy cruiser U.S.S. Port Royal made a four-day visit (Dec. 17-Dec. 20) to Jakarta’s Tangjung Priok. It was the first ever visit to Jakarta by a U.S. navy cruiser. While in port, the ship’s crew members had the opportunity to meet local citizens, and experience Indonesian customs and traditions. On the first day of the visit, the crewmembers were welcomed with flowers and fruit, traditional dancers, fire-breathers, and other performers.

The second day brought visitors from Indonesian newspaper and television reporters. The journalists were given a tour of the U.S.S. Port Royal, and had an extensive interview with the ship’s commander, Captain David B. Adler.

During the ship’s third day of its visit, the U.S.S. Port Royal welcomed students from a local high school. Sailors answered questions and demonstrated along the tour route, and served refreshments in the Wardroom. “The kids were all really excited to be there,” said Lt. Keith Ludwick.

Also on December 19th, Port Royal crewmembers participated in Project Handclasp, where the ship transported educational, humanitarian and goodwill materials to three Indonesian NGOs. Project Handclasp is a program that allows private U.S. organizations to donate toys and other items for forward-deployed military units to distribute overseas. “The timing of these gifts is perfect,” said Sister Maria from Yayasan Emmanuel. “At this time of year we want to give more, but we have so little to give. Thank you for these gifts.” The Project Handclasp donated to the following NGOs:

Dwituna Rawinala – a school for multiple handicapped children with blindness or low vision and other physical impairment. Ages range from 3 to 36 years. Dwituna Rawinda is a learning center that aims to promote development so the disabled can learn to communicate and assimilate in Indonesian society.

Shalom International – provides charitable outreach to people in remote and difficult to access areas. Shalom International supports disadvantaged people by assisting with evacuations, medial relief, transportation, and community assistance activities, and goods distribution.

Yayasan Emmanuel - provides housing, education and medical care to orphaned, abandoned, and neglected children of all faiths. It seeks to make children independent and responsible members of society.

Capt. David B. Adler (second from the right) poses with NGO representatives and several crewmembers from the U.S.S. Port Royal during the Project Handclasp event.

U.S. Navy port visits represent an important opportunity to promote peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region of the world. The visits also demonstrate U.S. commitment to regional partners, including Indonesia, and foster growing relationships among those partners. U.S. Navy ships routinely make port calls in a variety of locations. The visits are consistent with the U.S. desire to interact with Pacific Rim nations, and they provide the crew with a chance to promote mutual understanding and cultural exchanges through people-to-people contact.

Home ported in Hawaii, the U.S.S. Port Royal is a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser. She is the second U.S. Naval Warship to bear the name of two naval battles of Port Royal Sound, South Carolina of the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), and the American Civil War (1861-1865). The U.S.S. Port Royal is part of the U.S. 7^th Fleet, which is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets with approximately 50 ships, 120 aircraft, and 20,000 sailors and marines. The U.S. 7^th Fleet is tangible proof of the U.S. commitment to peace and stability in the Pacific region, and it directly supports U.S. national goals of strengthening alliances, defeating global threats, and preserving the free flow of trade.

For more information regarding the U.S.S. Port Royal, please visit http://www.port-royal.navy.mil/. For more regarding the U.S. 7^th Fleet, please visit http://www.c7f.navy.mil.

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