U.S. Sixth Fleet meets with Romanian Naval Forces during USS Mount Whitney visit to Constanta

10.31.2008

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class David Holmes  

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet

By Petty Officer 2nd Class David Holmes,
U.S. Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Sixth Fleet Public Affairs

CONSTANTA, Romania – The commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, Vice Adm. Bruce W. Clingan, met with the chief of Romanian Naval Forces Staff, Rear Adm. Dorin Danila on Saturday to discuss ongoing Black Sea maritime partnerships as a prelude to the annual Black Sea Partnership Cruise.

"Through efforts such as the Black Sea Partnership initiative, I am confident that we can build upon the idea of a Global Maritime Partnership, increase our collective capabilities and achieve greater regional security," said Clingan.

The U.S. Sixth Fleet-led BSPC, scheduled to occur, Nov. 10-16, 2008, is an annual event to strengthen ongoing partnerships and increase interoperability with Black Sea nations. A self-contained headquarters for the fleet and task force commander, Mount Whitney serves as the BSPC underway training platform.

Sixty-five representatives from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and the United States will participate in the BSPC evolution this year. The at-sea period includes workshops for helicopter control operations, junior officer and non-commissioned officer development, interoperability discussions, and an oil spill scenario. Additional topics to be covered during the cruise are humanitarian assistance; maritime domain awareness; navigation; rules of engagement; law of the sea; piracy; counter narcotics; visit, board, search and seizure; and customs enforcement.

Mount Whitney, which is home ported in Gaeta, Italy, arrived in Constanta, Oct. 31, 2008, on a regularly scheduled deployment to the Black Sea.

• Date Taken: 10.31.2008
• Date Posted: 11.02.2008 10:45
• Story ID: 25826