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HSV 2 Swift Hosts Chinese, Others in Support of Expo Naval 2010

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS101202-05
12/2/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Jeffery Tilghman Williams, High Speed Vessel 2 (HSV 2) Swift Public Affairs

VALPARAISO, Chile (NNS) -- High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) hosted a group of senior officers and distinguished visitors from China's People's Liberation Army navy, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, for a bay tour in support of the 7th Expo Naval in Puerto Valparaiso, Chili, Dec. 1.

The 26 guests, including Director, Office of Naval Research, Rear Adm. Nevin Carr; and Director, Navy International Programs Office, Rear Adm. Joseph Rixey; were welcomed by Southern Partnership Station 2011 Mission Commander, Cmdr. Mark Becker; who gave a detailed tour of the Incat-built high-speed catamaran and discussed its various capabilities and how its unique design enables the Navy to complete SPS.

"It was a pleasure hosting both foreign and U.S. military leadership to the ship and discussing how we operate," said Becker. "We are honored to play a role in Expo Naval, and exchange information with our partner nations in the region."

"This interaction is good for all parties involved," said Chinese Navy Rear Adm. Zhao Yongfu, Naval Academy of Armament director. "This is my first time on an American Navy ship."

Expo Naval is a one-week international exhibition and conference of technologies, equipment and services for the Latin America Naval Defense Industry.

SPS is an annual deployment of U.S. ships to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in the Caribbean and Latin America involving information sharing with navies, coast guards and civilian services throughout the region.

Commander, U.S. Navy Southern Command (COMUSNAVSO) is the naval component command for U.S. Southern Command and is responsible for all naval personnel and assets in the area of responsibility.

COMUSNAVSO conducts a variety of missions in support of the U.S. maritime strategy, including theater security cooperation, relationship building, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, community relations, and counter-illicit trafficking operations.