Sri Vijaya Puram (Andaman and Nicobar) [India], July 26 (ANI): The Pathfinder-class oceanographic survey ship USNS Bowditch (T-AGS 62) departed from Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair) following a scheduled port visit on July 25, according to a statement from the Defence Visual Information Distribution Service.
The visit underscores the shared democratic values and mutual commitment of the United States and India to enhancing security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region through a strengthened maritime partnership.
During its visit, the Bowditch leadership held official meetings with senior officials from the Andaman and Nicobar Command. The ship also hosted guided tours for personnel from the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard, fostering greater cooperation between the two maritime forces. Additionally, crew members engaged in cultural exchange activities, including visits to the historic Cellular Jail and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep, helping to build enduring people-to-people connections.
“The officers and crew of the USNS Bowditch have been proud to participate in many activities during our visit that not only boost morale but also strengthen our relationship with our partners, the Indian Navy,” said Captain Dave Mitchell, commanding officer of the USNS Bowditch.
This marked the first port visit to India by a US Navy Special Mission vessel in two decades, highlighting the United States’ sustained commitment to maintaining a regional presence and engaging collaboratively with key Indo-Pacific partners.
The Bowditch is an oceanographic survey ship attached to the Military Sealift Command and is currently operating in the Indo-Pacific in support of the US 7th Fleet—the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet. The vessel is one of six oceanographic survey ships operated by personnel from the Naval Oceanographic Office at the John C. Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
The Bowditch conducts acoustic, biological, physical, and geophysical surveys, generating crucial data on the ocean environment. Equipped with multi-beam, wide-angle precision sonar systems, the ship can continuously chart extensive areas of the evolving ocean floor.
The US Navy’s hydrographic mission fosters diplomacy and military cooperation by sharing information and participating in combined survey missions with allied nations. The hydrographic and oceanographic data gathered by Naval Oceanographic Office personnel play a key role in ensuring navigational safety for US platforms, thereby supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific and contributing to global economic stability.
Commander, Submarine Group 7, directs forward-deployed, combat-ready forces across the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Arabian Sea. Meanwhile, Commander, Logistics Western Pacific/Task Force 73 supports deployed surface units and aircraft carriers, and works with regional allies and partners to facilitate South China Sea patrols, naval exercises, and humanitarian responses.
The US 7th Fleet routinely operates and interacts with allies and partners in efforts to preserve a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
About The Author
