Military

USS Georgia Departs Bahrain after Port Visit

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091020-08
Release Date: 10/20/2009 9:35:00 AM

By Yeoman 1st Class Owen Fitzgerald, USS Georgia Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- The Ohio-class submarine USS Georgia (SSGN 729) departed Bahrain Sept. 28 after a regularly scheduled four-day port visit.

The visit marked Georgia's first visit to Bahrain and the first port call by an Ohio-class submarine to Khalifa Bin Salman Port.

"It is an honor that our second port visit during this deployment was to Bahrain," said Capt. Brian A. McIlvaine, Georgia's commanding officer (Blue). "My crew and I enjoyed visiting this wonderful country and developing long-lasting relationships."

While in port, more than 30 Sailors from Georgia took part in two different community relations (COMREL) projects. Sailors volunteered for landscaping and refurbishment projects at the Regional Institute for Active Learning (RIA) School in Adliya, and at the Al Rashad Center in Budayia.

"It's really great to see our Sailors having a good time in Bahrain and helping out the local community," said Master Chief Richard Rose, Georgia's chief of the boat (Blue).

Georgia also hosted several visitors from the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) during their port visit to help familiarize them with how the U.S. Navy conducts submarine operations as well as help build relationships between the two nations. Visitors to the Ohio-class submarine included the BDF chief of staff, head of the Bahrain Navy, and commander of the Bahrain Coast Guard.

Georgia is homeported at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay Georgia and is currently operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility.