PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, MAY 27, (RIA Novosti's Oksana Guseva) - On May 27 one of the US Navy's destroyers, namely, USS Cushing, arrived on a friendly visit in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky port (Kamchatka is a peninsula in the east of Asian Russia). No US warship has cast anchor in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky before.
Previously, Japanese and French ships were the only ones to visit this port.
Talking to RIA Novosti, people at the press service of the group of forces of the north-eastern Russia noted that official delegation members had met the group's commander Vice-Admiral Viktor Gavrikov.
The US destroyer will be anchored at the Avacha-harbor roadstead during the visit.
US sailors will tour the city, holding volleyball-and-football friendlies with their counterparts from the Russian Pacific fleet. They will also relax at the Paratunka military sanatorium, bathing in local hot springs.
The USS Cushing, which serves with the US Navy's fifteenth destroyer squadron, is commanded by Commander Serge McClow. The ship's complement is 29 officers and 371 sergeants.
The USS Cushing, which was launched in 1978, and which displaces 8,000 tons, is stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. This ship can develop a speed of 33 knots.
The visit is to last until May 31.