The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) arrived in Odessa, Ukraine, Nov. 29, 2017, for a scheduled port visit.

While in Odessa, the Sailors aboard James E. Williams will be hosting a reception on the ship as well as engaging in a community relations project with the local community.

"I think this project will be a really awesome opportunity to interact with the locals and get a unique experience in the city," said Religious Programs Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Deluca, from Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Sailors aboard the ship will be allowed free time to take liberty and experience Odessa.

"I think the Sailors will have a great time in Odessa," said Cmdr. Allen Siegrist, commanding officer of James E. Williams. "The crew has always represented the ship well throughout our previous ports and I'm sure that they will enjoy all that Odessa has to offer."

The ship's presence in the Black Sea is a demonstration of our continued commitment to the collective security of the European region.

James E. Williams, homeported in Norfolk, is on a routine deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

For more Navy news, visit
www.navy.mil,
www.facebook.com/usnavy, or
www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.