English
On August 25, the US Navy destroyer USS JAMES E. WILLIAMS (DDG 95) arrived at the Port of Riga. The ships visit at the Port of Riga serves as a testimony to the cooperation between the USA and Latvia, ensuring stability, security and prosperity not only in the Baltic Sea Region, but throughout the whole Europe. In relation to the arrival of the US Navy destroyer at the Port of Riga, its Commander Allen Siegrist, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Latvia Paul Poletes and Attaché of the U.S. Army, Lieutenant Colonel Alexandra K. Nielsen visited the Freeport of Riga Authority in an official meeting with Ansis Zeltins (Ansis Zeltiņš), CEO of the Freeport of Riga Authority.
Ansis Zeltiņš, CEO of the Freeport of Riga Authority, welcomes the Commander of the destroyerUSS JAMES E. WILLIAMS with their arrival in Riga. In turn, Cmdr. Allen Siegrist praised the cooperation with the Vessel Traffic Service Centre and Harbour Master of the Freeport of Riga Authority, confirming that the vessel's entering in the Port of Riga had been safe. During the visit guests were introduced to the operation, the main indicators and future plans of the Freeport of Riga. At the end of the visit, the Freeport of Riga Authority CEO and Cmdr. Allen Siegrist exchanged emblems of the vessel and the port.
It is planned that the U.S. Navy destroyer will stay at the Port of Riga until August 31st. From August 25 to 28, the seamen of USS JAMES E. WILLIAMS will participate in several charity projects at the Brukna Manor Rehabilitation Centre, the Alternative Family House "Zvannieki" and St. Luke's Support Association.
The USS JAMES E. WILLIAMS (DDG 95) is the U.S. Navy's 45th Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, equipped with modern battlefield support and control systems. The vessel was named in honour of Vietnam war Boatswain's Mate 1st Class James E. Williams. It was built at Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi and launched in 2003. Sizes of the vessel:
Length: 155.3 m
Width: 20 m
Draught: 9.4 m
