Panaji, Apr 27: Two of the US Navy’s ships reflecting their might arrived are currently holding `theater cooperation and good will mission’ in Goa, which will also have an interaction with the Indian Navy officials, a senior officer said.

 

 

 

 

“Theater  cooperation exercise reemphasises our commitment to built partnership with other countries,” Commander Jeff Bernard, Commanding USS La Jolla, a submarine ship, told reporters at Vasco port.
 
USS La Jolla (SSN 701), a Los Angeles class fast attack submarine is in Goa port along with Submarine Tender USS Emory S. Land. The officers have claimed that they are here on a `good will mission.’
 
Bernard said that they have an event with Indian Navy officers to discuss things which are parallel with both the navies. The ships arrived in Goa on April 23.
 
USS La Jolla is a 30 year old submarine carrying 140 crew members on it. “India is a very interesting country,” Lt Commander Nathan Luther, who has completed two years of his education in Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), said.
 
With little command over Hindi language, Luther said that the Goa trip helps the crew to share their experiences with Indian Navy and also to relax.
 
“Our visit will not be all work and no relaxation,” said Command Master Chief Paul Sweeney, commanding USS Emory S. Land.
 
American navy sailors participated in the community relation initiatives like planting a tree at International Centre Goa near Panaji and also participated in a basketball match with Goa team. The American team lost the friendly match.
 
While majority crew was on relaxation, USS Emory S. Land was busy working to ensure that the submarine is maintained properly before she returns to operations. “We are providing tended support services to La Jolla to ensure all systems are fully operational and capable when she returns to operations,” Lt. Cmdr. Tobias Lemerande, Emory S. Land’s Repair Officer, told reporters on board the ship.
 
“Land’s repair department will perform minor equipment adjustments as well as manufacture and provide some quality of life items to the crew’s eating and living spaces that will help make the submarine’s sailors' lives a bit more comfortable,” he said.