US Navy ship visits Bacolod, conducts civic missions
BACOLOD CITY -- The United States Ship (USS) Chafee manned by the U.S. Navy docked on the waters of Bacolod Saturday with Commander Heedong Choi as the ship’s Commanding Officer.
The ship was here to participate in a military exercise by the Southeast Asian Navy which is done annually since 1995.
Commander Choi said that this is the U.S. Navy’s effort to partner with the Southeast Asian neighbors to ensure that there’s maritime cooperation and maritime security in the global commerce. “The ocean belongs to all of us as 70 to 80 percent of the world’s people live within the 100 nautical miles of the coastline and it’s very important for commerce and enterprise to use the oceans to make sure that trade is free and plentiful,” Choi noted.
He said that the U.S. Navy has big ships like the USS Chafee (DDG 90) flight IIA Arleigh Burke Destroyer, but the Philippine Navy, although they have smaller ships are very good in protecting the maritime environment. “We have to learn from them and they can also learn from us,” Choi added.
He added that they are pursuing the mutual partnership with the Philippine Navy, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police and even reached out to the Gawad Kalinga here for its community involvement.
The USS Chafee has 300 sailors on board ageing from 25 and above. The sailors come from all walks of life and from 20 different countries. Commander Choi is a Korean but now a U.S. citizen.
“The U.S. accepts diversity whoever you are as long as you are willing to volunteer your services to the U.S. Navy, regardless of your national origin, religion, color and creed. As long as you work hard, you will find a very good opportunity joining the U.S. Navy,” he said.
The USS Chafee will be here in the Philippine coast for 10-12 days, Commander Choi said. Their next destination is Cebu wherein they will participate in the Maritime Security Operation.
The USS Chaffee costs $1.2 billion and the U.S. Navy has 50 of it. They have a total of 280 ships but are not enough to protect the world’s ocean, thus they partner with their Asian neighbors.
The ship is 150 meters long and can carry a load of 92,000 tons. It has radar with very significant capability that can track very small target. They also have missiles that can reach a thousand miles.
It’s fuel requirement is 600,000 gallons and its consumption for a one mile of travel in full speed is about 158 gallons, which is very expensive, he said. It also brought on board one helicopter.
There were few visitors who were allowed to board the USS Chafee. Commander Choi and his sailors warmly welcomed the representatives of Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia, Negros Occidental Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Manuel Felix, 303rd Brigade Commander and members of the Bacolod media namely Carla N. Cañet, Negros Daily Bulletin and Sunshine Channel 14, Teresa Dulla, Negros Daily Bulletin, dyRL, Sunshine Channel 14 and dyAF; Mr. Vic Mercado, dyRL; George dela Cruz and Merlinda Pedrosa, SunStar Bacolod.
Mrs. Edwina Javier represented Mayor Leonardia where Commander Choi gave the Mayor, through her, a cap as a show of their good gesture to him for the warm welcome.
The visitors traveled about four miles to reach the USS Chafee. It was a wet ride especially by members of the media as they left Bredco port by around 8:30 p.m. on rough seas.
But it was once in a lifetime experience to see the huge battle ship and to board the speed boat at night with the U.S. sailors.