The US Navy has begun non-combat naval exchange activities with the Vietnam People’s Navy after two US naval vessels landed at Tien Sa Port in the central city of Da Nang on April 21.

Representing the US naval delegation at the welcoming ceremony at the port on Sunday were Commander of the Logistics Group Western Pacific Rear Admiral Tom Carney, the delegation head, Commander of the Maritime Staff Element Captain Paul Schlise, the Captains of USS Chung-Hoon and USNS Salvor, and U.S. Consulate General Deputy Principal Officer Robert Ogburn. U.S. units participating in the naval exchange activities include the guided missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon and the rescue and salvage ship USNS Salvor, which are manned by sailors fromthe Logistics Group Western Pacific and the Maritime Staff Element, as well as Marines and medical trainers from the III Marine Expeditionary Force, a mobile diving and salvage detachment, and the 7th Fleet Band Orient Express. The destroyer, which has a loading capacity of 9,496 tons and can travel at 30 nautical miles per hour, also carries two LAMPS MK III MH-60 B/R helicopters with Penguin/Hellfire missiles and MK 46/MK 50 torpedoes. The five-day exchange will comprise of non-combatant events and skills exchanges in many areas, including navigation and maintenance. Speaking at the reception, Commander Rear Admiral Tom Carney said he expected the collaboration with the Vietnam People’s Navy will help implement many exchange activities between the two sides. In addition, ship tours, band concerts, community relations events, and U.S.-Vietnamese Navy sporting events are also arranged. During their stay, Rear Admiral Tom Carney, Maritime Staff Element Captain Paul Schlise, and the Captains of USS Chung-Hoon and USNS Salvor will pay a courtesy call to leaders of the municipal People’s Committee and Naval Zone 3. This is the third consecutive time that naval exchanges have been conducted between Vietnam and the US, Carney said, adding that the two US vessels will leave Da Nang on April 25.