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Laboon Wraps Up TSC Port Visits in Baltic Sea Region

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100507-01
5/7/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nikki Smith, Destroyer Squadron 24 Public Affairs

ABOARD USS LABOON, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) set sail to return to their homeport of Norfolk, Va., May 5, after port visits to countries of the Baltic Sea region.

Laboon is heading home after conducting theater security cooperation (TSC) port visits to Tallinn, Estonia and Helsinki, Finland following the ship's participation in the United Kingdom-led, multinational exercise Joint Warrior 10-1 off the coast of Scotland.

Cmdr. Donald Donegan, Laboon's commanding officer, expressed satisfaction with the port visit to Finland, where he had the opportunity to host Finnish military and government officials aboard Laboon.

"It was an excellent visit and a great opportunity to cooperate and engage with our Finnish allies," said Donegan.

During the transit from Tallinn to Helsinki, Laboon hosted more than 20 distinguished visitors, including Ambassador Bruce J. Oreck, United States Ambassador to Finland, for the three-hour transit to Helsinki.

The embarked guests watched Laboon depart the Port of Tallinn and took tours of the ship.

Laboon's visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team suited up in their gear to demonstrate the ship's maritime interdiction operations capabilities.

The damage control team displayed fire-fighting gear, and on the mess decks, the visitors learned about Laboon's namesake, Father Jake Laboon, from Culinary Specialist 1st Class Natasha Rodgers.

After the distinguished guests disembarked at Helsinki, Laboon Sailors enjoyed liberty in the Finnish city.

Laboon conducted port visits in the Baltic Sea region after participating in the independent certification event Joint Warrior 10-1, a semi-annual exercise that encompasses multinational and multi-warfare evolutions designed to improve interoperability between allied navies and prepares engaged crews to execute combined operations during deployment.