<p>USS Decatur will dock at the Chennai port for four days, an American embassy statement said Wednesday.<br /><br />“The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is led by Commander Shanti Sethi, an American of Indian descent. Commander Sethi is also the first female commanding officer of a US navy ship to visit Chennai,” it said.<br /><br />US ambassador Timothy J. Roemer said: “A strong defence relationship is essential to the US-India strategic partnership. Ship visits strengthen our already strong bilateral military relationship and augment the extensive maritime security efforts between our two democracies.”<br /><br />He said the visits enhanced people-to-people ties that were the bedrock of US-India partnership.<br /><br />“That the USS Decatur is led by Commander Shanti Sethi, an Indian-American woman, is <br />yet another example of the close bond between the American and Indian people. Our people-to-people ties continue to grow and expand in education, business, the arts, intelligence, and in defence,” Roemer said.<br /><br />The primary mission of Decatur is to operate with Expeditionary Strike Groups and Carrier Strike Groups in high-threat environments. The ship can also provide essential escort capabilities to navy and Marine Corps amphibious forces, combat logistics ships, and convoys.<br /><br />In Chennai, Decatur crew members will take part in various community service events. Commander Sethi will meet local girl students.</p>.<p>The port call of USS Decatur comes close on the heels of the USNS Safeguard, a salvage class vessel, which visited Port Blair Jan 4-11.<br /><br />“US navy port visits promote peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and demonstrate US commitment to regional partners while fostering growing defence relationships,” the release added.<br /><br />In July 2007, one of America's largest warship, aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, called on the Chennai port. The skipper of the vessel was Captain Micheal C. Manazir, a naval pilot who answered to the call sign Nasty.</p>
<p>USS Decatur will dock at the Chennai port for four days, an American embassy statement said Wednesday.<br /><br />“The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is led by Commander Shanti Sethi, an American of Indian descent. Commander Sethi is also the first female commanding officer of a US navy ship to visit Chennai,” it said.<br /><br />US ambassador Timothy J. Roemer said: “A strong defence relationship is essential to the US-India strategic partnership. Ship visits strengthen our already strong bilateral military relationship and augment the extensive maritime security efforts between our two democracies.”<br /><br />He said the visits enhanced people-to-people ties that were the bedrock of US-India partnership.<br /><br />“That the USS Decatur is led by Commander Shanti Sethi, an Indian-American woman, is <br />yet another example of the close bond between the American and Indian people. Our people-to-people ties continue to grow and expand in education, business, the arts, intelligence, and in defence,” Roemer said.<br /><br />The primary mission of Decatur is to operate with Expeditionary Strike Groups and Carrier Strike Groups in high-threat environments. The ship can also provide essential escort capabilities to navy and Marine Corps amphibious forces, combat logistics ships, and convoys.<br /><br />In Chennai, Decatur crew members will take part in various community service events. Commander Sethi will meet local girl students.</p>.<p>The port call of USS Decatur comes close on the heels of the USNS Safeguard, a salvage class vessel, which visited Port Blair Jan 4-11.<br /><br />“US navy port visits promote peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and demonstrate US commitment to regional partners while fostering growing defence relationships,” the release added.<br /><br />In July 2007, one of America's largest warship, aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, called on the Chennai port. The skipper of the vessel was Captain Micheal C. Manazir, a naval pilot who answered to the call sign Nasty.</p>