USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) arrived in Port Louis, Mauritius on July 30, 2009 to kick off several days of import and at sea training with the Mauritius National Coast Guard as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS).

APS is an international initiative led by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa. The initiative is aimed at improving maritime safety and security for the continent of Africa through training and other collaborative activities with African partner countries.

Arleigh Burke will host numerous hands-on, cooperative training that will cover events such as basic damage control, flight deck operations, search and rescue, and visit, board, search and seizure exercises.

"I am thrilled to be here in Mauritius to show U.S. enduring commitment to APS and its common goal of achieving a secure, stable and prosperous maritime environment in Africa," said Captain Jim Tranoris, commodore of APS Arleigh Burke. "The cooperative activities we have planned with our African partners will continue to aide the capacity of theater security cooperation and reinforce the groundwork of maritime safety and security in the region."

Tranoris also added that U.S. Sailors will have the opportunity to experience the rich culture of this Indian Ocean island nation.

Arleigh Burke, a guided missile destroyer homeported in Norfolk, Va., is the second APS platform to visit South and East Africa, and recently conducted theater security cooperations with partners in Djibouti, Seychelles, Kenya and South Africa.