US Navy destroyer enters Black Sea, docks in Romania

February 3, 2017

U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) entered the Black Sea on February 2 on a routine Black Sea deployment.

On her first Black Sea port visit, USS Porter arrived in Constanta, Romania, on February 3.

“It’s always a privilege to visit the welcoming city of Constanta. Our past few visits have given us the opportunity to make many friends and memorable experiences,” Cmdr. Andria Slough, commanding officer USS Porter, said.

“We are looking forward to building on our already strong relationship with the citizens of Romania.”

While in the Black Sea, Porter is scheduled to participate in exercise Sea Shield 2017. Exercise Sea Shield is an annual Romanian-led multinational exercise in the Black Sea to improve interoperability and proficiency of participating units.

Porter has routinely operated in the Black Sea over the past few years. Slough said the upcoming operations are meant to help improve interoperability, sharing of information and experiences, and the ability to work together toward peace and prosperity.

USS Porter is forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, and is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe.

The ship deployed from Naval Station Rota November 30, 2016.