USS Mount Whitney arrives in Burgas

The U.S. 6th Fleet flagship, USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), homeported in Gaeta, Italy, is currently underway in the Black Sea in support of routine maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. This transit marks the first time since 2008 that Mount Whitney and her crew have sailed into the Black Sea.

Mount Whitney operates with a combined crew of U.S. Sailors and Military Sealift Command civil service mariners. The civil service mariners perform navigation, deck, engineering and supply service operations while military personnel aboard support communications, weapons systems and security.

Captain Craig Clapperton, Mount Whitney's commanding officer, and the ship's crew will spend a few days in the port of Burgas, to meet with local officials, participate in community engagement projects at a local school with Bulgarian sailors, and host a reception for distinguished guests.

Adapted from SatndartNews