The flagship of the United States Navy’s Seventh Fleet, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), docked at the Port Klang Cruise Terminal today, marking its second visit to Malaysia since Kota Kinabalu in 2019.
Strengthening US-Malaysia Naval Partnership
Vice-Admiral Fred Kacher, Commander of the US Seventh Fleet, emphasised the strategic importance of Malaysia as a key partner for the US Navy in the region. “This port visit provides us with an important opportunity to meet our Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) counterparts, engage with the community here, and enjoy the sights and culture,” he said.
Upon arrival, Kacher was greeted by RMN Inspector General Rear Admiral Abdullah Sani Ismail.
Focus on Maritime Security
Captain Nicholas DeLeo, commanding officer of USS Blue Ridge, highlighted the significance of the visit in terms of maritime security collaboration. “There are a couple of items of mutual interests that we have with Malaysia in terms of security, whether it’s counterterrorism, maritime domain awareness, or regional stability. Those are topics that we are looking to discuss and further our relationship on,” DeLeo stated during a media tour of the ship.
Engagement and Activities
The visit includes various activities planned for the crew, who are eager to experience Malaysian culture and cuisine. “We have a couple of community relation programmes. We have two sporting events: a volleyball match and a soccer match. We’ll also visit a soup kitchen and a school,” DeLeo added.
USS Blue Ridge: A Historic Vessel
Commissioned in 1970, USS Blue Ridge is the second oldest ship in the US Navy, following the USS Constitution, a three-masted, wooden-hulled heavy frigate. Despite its age, Blue Ridge remains one of the few US Navy ships powered primarily by steam.
The ship’s main role is to provide command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence support to the commander and staff of the US Seventh Fleet. It is forward-deployed to US Navy Fleet Activities in Yokosuka, Japan.
A Significant Port Visit
The USS Blue Ridge will be docked in Port Klang until the weekend. This visit follows recent stops in Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines, showcasing the vessel’s ongoing role in strengthening US naval presence and partnerships across the region.
The USS Blue Ridge is the third US Navy ship named after the Blue Ridge Mountains in the eastern United States, continuing a legacy of strategic naval operations and international collaboration.