U.S. warship to join Georgia navy exercise

13.07.2009 Source: en.rian.ru

A U.S. guided-missile destroyer will enter the port of Batumi on July 14 to participate in a joint naval exercise with Georgia, the U.S. embassy press service in the Caucasus republic said on Friday.

It said the exercise, including several Georgian Black-Sea coast-guard vessels, would rehearse emergency scenarios such as on board fire and flooding.

The embassy said the visit of the USS Stout (DDG-55) was part of a U.S. military strategy of strengthening regional stability and naval partnership.

The USS Stout will leave Batumi on July 17 and head for the port of Poti where it will stay until July 19.

USS Stout (DDG-55) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. Commissioned in 1994, the vessel is currently homeported in Norfolk, Virginia.