US naval ship docks at Chennai port

Chennai: On a three-day visit, a US Navy ship led by its first woman Commander, an Indian-American,docked at the Chennai Port Trust today.

The DECATUR (DDG 73) is led by Shanti Sethi, the first woman commanding officer of the ship, a release from the US Consulate General said.

The primary mission of "Decatur" is to operate with expeditionary and carrier strike groups in high-threat environments, it said.

The ship would also provide essential escort capabilities to Navy and Marine Corps amphibious forces and combat logistics ships, it said.

"..the USS Decatur led by Commander Shanti Sethi, an Indian-American woman, is 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, arts, intelligence and in defense" US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer said.

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During its visit, crew members of Decatur would participate in various community services.

This is the second visit of a US Navy ship after the first salvage class vessel USNS Safeguard docked at Port Blair in January this year.

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