Port of call: ‘USS Blue Ridge’ docking in Port Klang for a routine port visit, with the crew (pic, below) eager for a taste of Malaysian hospitality and cuisine. — KK SHAM/The Star
KLANG: Whether it’d be thousands of miles in another country or sailing across the vast open seas, the crew aboard the USS Blue Ridge are eager to get a taste of a local Malaysian delicacy – the durian.
Being the flagship of the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet, the ship’s over 1,000 crew are eager for a taste of Malaysian hospitality and cuisine after having arrived at Port Klang for a routine port visit yesterday.
USS Blue Ridge commanding officer Captain Nicholas DeLeo said he was looking forward to trying durian for the first time to mark his first visit to Malaysia.
“The crew has been particularly looking forward to this visit for both the food and the sights.
“I will definitely look to try that (durian),” he said when recommended to him by reporters during a media tour of the ship .
DeLeo also hoped the ship’s visit would further improve relations with the Malaysian people through a number of planned community relations and cultural events.
These include two sporting events in both volleyball and soccer as well as a visit to a local assembly kitchen and school.
“We hope to further improve our relationship with the Malaysian people as we share mutual interests with Malaysia especially in terms of security, which includes counter terrorism, maritime domain and regional stability,” he added.
Fellow crew member and ship chaplain Michael Bowen, 40, was looking forward to trying durian, the renowned regional delicacy after he missed it during his first visit to Malaysia with his family in 2007.
“I have only smelled it before but I believe it must definitely taste better than it smells.
“I am really looking forward to finally tasting it,” he said.
Other than food, Bowen said he was also looking forward to exploring Malaysia’s renowned local shopping mall scene to buy souvenirs.
“The first thing I plan to do is visit one of the many famous shopping malls here to fill my closet up with goodies.
“I plan to personally help boost the Malaysia economy by buying many things,” he said.
Built in 1969 and commissioned in 1970, the USS Blue Ridge remains the longest serving operational ship in the US Navy and one of last few steam-powered navy ships with two boilers powering the ship’s daily operations.
Despite this, the ship remains as one of the most capable command ships in the US Navy with many of its onboard systems and equipment having been upgraded to match other modern Navy ships.
At 194m long, the USS Blue Ridge hosts a combined crew and personnel of over 1,000 a majority of the time, comprising about 650 ship crew members and over 350 officers and staffers of the Seventh Fleet.
A number of US Navy leaders are also planning to hold meetings with local military representatives and diplomatic officials during the ship’s visit to Malaysia that is expected to last for a few days, according to DeLeo.
Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) Rear Admiral Abdullah Sani Ismail had also arrived earlier to have a meeting with US Seventh Fleet commander Vice Admiral Fred Kacher before the start of the media tour yesterday.
