The United States Naval Ship (USNS) Fall River has arrived in Malaysia as part of the 2017 Pacific Partnership exercise.

The exercise is an annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission in the Indo-Asia Pacific region.

This year’s exercise is the 12th iteration of the mission. This year’s exercise - a military cooperation between the US, Malaysia, Australia, South Korea and Japan - will focus on training for natural disasters.

The USNS Fall River made its first stop in Sri Lanka. Currently docked at the Boustead Cruise Centre, Port Klang, the ship will stop in Kuching, Sarawak before heading to Kuantan, Pahang.

The expeditionary fast transport will make its last stop in Vietnam before returning to Singapore, US Navy public affairs officer lieutenant Emily Wilkin told media representatives today.

Media practitioners were earlier taken on a tour aboard the ship.

They were first shown the ship’s flight deck which today was arranged with full of tables as part of the opening ceremony of the Pacific Partnership exercise.

At other times, the flight deck acts as a landing zone for helicopters.

Wilkin told reporters that the ship houses a maximum of 104 people during long missions. This is if the beds are taken into account.

Altogether, the ship can accommodate approximately 400 people if its main hall - which contains rows of recliner chairs - is used.

A hundred and three metres in length, the ship operates at a speed of 80km per hour.

With a total of 312 troops, they are led by the mission’s commander captain Stanfield L Chien.

Enormous benefits in military exercise

Apart from military doctors, civil engineers and multi-service support staff, the ship also has a crew of civilian mariners.

Later during the start of the opening ceremony, Malaysian participants were pleasantly surprised when one of the US naval officers led the singing of both the "Negaraku" and the "Star Spangled Banner".

Both the officer’s baritone voice and clear Bahasa Malaysia pronunciation were pleasant to hear.

After the ceremony, Malaysian Joint Forces Commander lieutenant general Fadzil Mokhtar told the media that the military exercise had “enormous benefits”.

“It builds confidence, we can tap into each other's experiences and draw the expertise of one another,” he said.

Pointing to the civic programmes to be undertaken in Sarawak, Fadzil said classrooms will be built by both US and local engineers, among others.

Apart from engagements with the local military, the ship’s crew is expected to participate in community relations activities.

The US Navy’s Pacific Fleet band will also perform at various locations. Just today, the band performed at shopping centre eCurve in Damansara.