USS ‘Anchorage’ in Colombo for military exercise

by Zulfick Farzan 19-01-2023 | 12:34 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps will commence exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)/Marine Exercise (MAREX) Sri Lanka 2023 with the Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force in Colombo from Thursday (19) for a period of one week.

USS ‘Anchorage’ (LPD-23) of the United States Navy arrived at the Port of Colombo today (19th January 2023) to take part in the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Exercise -2023 (CARAT–2023).

Upon her arrival, the visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.

USS ‘Anchorage’ is a 208m long San Antonio – Class amphibious transport dock manned by 477 crew members and she is commanded by Captain KEELER, D.J.

The Commanding Officer of USS ‘Anchorage’ is scheduled to call on Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Suresh De Silva at the Western Naval Command Headquarters today. As part of the sea phase of CARAT–2023, USS ‘Anchorage’ will conduct various exercise serials with SLNS Gajabahu and SLNS Samudura.

The ship will depart the island on 27th January 2023, on completion of CARAT–2023.

CARAT/MAREX Sri Lanka is a bilateral exercise between Sri Lanka and the United States designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability.

This is the fifth CARAT/ MAREX exercise between the United States and Sri Lanka, and this year includes participants from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Maldives National Defence Force. Training exchanges will occur in Colombo and on the Sri Lanka Navy bases in Trincomalee and Mullikullam.

The week-long exercise is designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies’ abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region and build relationships through sports, cultural, and information exchanges.

In addition to training for humanitarian disaster relief and lifesaving training, U.S. and Sri Lankan servicemembers will participate in a Women, Peace and Security roundtable with the Ambassador Chung. During the exercise, the 7th Fleet Navy band, in partnership with the Sri Lankan Navy band, will give a series of free performances in Colombo.