US naval ship USS John McCain, with 23 military officers and 315 sailors on board, docked at Tien Sa port in the central city of Da Nang, on August 10.

Speaking at the press conference after the welcome ceremony at Tien Sa port, the ship captain Lt. Colonel Jeffrey J. Kim said: “This visit aims to tighten the friendship and strengthen the relationship between Vietnam and the US. We will hold a training course on search and rescue on the sea with the Vietnamese navy.”

The crew paid a courtesy visit to the Da Nang municipal People’s Committee and the High Command of the Vietnamese navy.

During the visit, military officers and sailors on the USS John McCain will conduct an exchange with the Vietnam People’s Navy to share experiences in rescue work at sea, take part in friendly sports competitions with soldiers in Region C and Da Nang students, and provide free medical check-ups in Son Tra district in the city.

The visit marked the 15th anniversary of Vietnam-US diplomatic ties and was approved by the Vietnamese Government.

The ship will leave Da Nang on August 14.

The USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She is part of the Seventh Fleet, and she has her homeport at the Yokosuka Naval Base in Yokosuka, Japan.

This warship is named after John S. McCain, Jr., and John S. McCain, Sr., both Admirals in the US Navy.

The USS John S. McCain’s keel was laid down on 3 September 1991, at the Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. This warship was launched on 26 September 1992, sponsored by Cindy McCain, the wife of Senator John McCain. The John S. McCain was commissioned on 2 July 1994, at the Bath Iron Works. The former President of the United States, George H. W. Bush, was the ceremony’s principal speaker.

VietNamNet takes some photos of the ship:

PV