The U.S. Seventh Fleet's command ship USS Blue Ridge arrived at Jakarta's Tanjung Priok Port on Monday on a goodwill mission and to boost U.S. and Indonesia defense relations.

The flagship came from Thailand as part of its journey around Southeast Asia to build community relations between the U.S. navy and the navies of the Pacific and Indian Ocean countries, including Indonesia.

This is the second time the Blue Ridge has made a port call in Indonesia. The 37-year-old but technologically sophisticated ship is scheduled to sail to its next destination, Malaysia, on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters on board the flagship, Seventh Fleet commander Vice Admiral Doug Crowder said he would meet leaders of the Indonesian Navy and witness local cultural and art performances, as well as interacting with local citizens.

"Indonesia is an active participant in the Pacific command security cooperation programs, which include exercises, regional workshops and seminars promoting security issues. We are happy to be here again to strengthen our military relationship with Indonesia and also to get better understanding of the local culture."

The Seventh Fleet is the largest U.S. fleet, with 40-50 ships, 120 aircraft and approximately 20,000 sailors and marines assigned at any given time. It supports U.S. goals of strengthening alliances, defeating global terrorism, preventing future terrorist attacks, defusing regional conflicts and securing the free flow of trade.

Following the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004, the 65-year-old fleet played a major role in relief operations off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, and Thailand and Sri Lanka.

In regards to the recent cyclone in Myanmar, Crowder said the fleet's three amphibious ships had already headed there for a humanitarian mission but they were not yet granted permission to enter the military-ruled country.

"But we decided to push up those ships up there with marines, helicopters and equipment to provide help," he said.

Commissioned on Nov. 14, 1970, at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Blue Ridge is equipped with one of the most sophisticated command and control systems.

"With a state-of-the-art commercial and military satellite capability coupled with the ability to track land, sea and air movements throughout the region, Blue Ridge is the most technologically advance ships in the world," the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta said in a statement.

The 620-foot-long ship was first operated from San Diego and since October 1979, it has been based in Yokosuka, Japan.

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