Photo: Odessa welcomes USS James E. Williams

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) arrived in Odessa, Ukraine, on November 29, for a scheduled port visit.

“The ship’s presence in the Black Sea is a demonstration of our continued commitment to the collective security of the European region,” the U.S. Navy said.

James E. Williams, homeported in Norfolk, is on a routine deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

While in Odessa, the sailors aboard James E. Williams will be hosting a reception on the ship as well as engaging in a community relations project.