Humanitarian vessel visits Lae

By PISAI GUMAR
LAE city’s business community and government agencies will welcome the humanitarian vessel, USS Cleveland, and its 750 Pacific partnership 2011 professionals and crew with a traditional Morobean spearing ceremony as it sails into Huon Gulf Bay.
The US Pacific fleet humanitarian assistance mission is on its sixth year and arrives in Lae today to strengthen regional relationships with Southeast Asian and Oceania nations that might be called to respond to natural and humanitarian disasters in the region.
The USS Cleveland will dock at the South Sea Lines shipping pier for a photo and video shoot only.
The main opening ceremony will be held tomorrow at the Sir Ignatius Kilage stadium.
For the next two weeks the professionals aboard the naval vessel will be engaged in visits to medical, dental, veterinarian and engineering projects sites.
The main activity centres will be Wampar, Muya, Bubia, Tent Siti, Malahang and Angau Memorial Hospital.
The master of the vessel, Capt Jesse Wilson, is scheduled to address students of the University of Technology at 11am on Monday.
A humanitarian assistance and disaster relief conference between US Pacific Fleet and Lae emergency responders will be held at the Lae International Hotel on May 27.
A Memorial Day service, from 10am on May 30, will pay homage to those who lost their lives in the line of duty during World War II.
The ceremony will be held at the Lae War cemetery.
Social activities include rock and jazz concerts and a basketball tournament at the stadium.