YOKOSUKA, Japan— USS Chief (MCM 14), forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan, as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet, will make a brief port visit to Niigata, Japan on July 9, 2018.
Chief is visiting Niigata for training and goodwill. Conducting port calls provides the crew with experience and improves mission readiness. Chief, commanded by Lt. Cmdr. William A. Russell, is an Avenger-class mine countermeasure ship and is 68.3 meters in length. The ship displaces approximately 1,300 tons with approximately crew size of 90.
While in Niigata, the crew is looking forward to meeting the citizens, sightseeing, shopping, enjoying the local cuisine and cultural attractions, and learning more about the scenic and historic area of Niigata, Japan.