As part of its maiden deployment, the nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan docked at Westport, Port Klang this morning for a long-awaited rest for the ship's crew who have not seen land for almost a month.

Admiral Michael H Miller ( right ) said this was USS Ronald Reagan's first journey away from its home base in the United States and his crew was excited to visit this country.

"We have sailed a long way from home and we're glad to be here in Port Klang. We are looking forward to befriend Malaysians here," he said while welcoming journalists touring the ship which spans a staggering 1,026 feet in length.

The former executive officer of USS John F Kennedy added that this is a good opportunity for the crew to interact with other people around the world and understand other cultures.

"I strongly believe that we must get to know your culture because that's a part of our marine life. Generally, we hope this journey will strengthen our friendship with other countries," he added.

Grilled over operations

Commanding Officer Terry Kraft candidly told journalists to expect his 5,000-strong crew, which include 600 women, to spend a substantial portion of their salary saved over the past five months, in Kuala Lumpur.

Both Miller and Kraft were also met with some aggressive questions from journalists, who wanted to know, among others, of the ship's involvement in military operations in Iran, Vietnam and the Guam islands.

"We normally don't reveal what's next on our schedule," said Miller coyly, but hinted that joint military exercises with the Malaysian Navy was on the cards.

Meanwhile, Kraft also commended the facilities at Port Klang noting not many ports in the world allow ships the size of the USS Ronald Reagan to dock directly next to land.

"The port here has saved us a lot of trouble because we don't have to use ferries to carry our crew to land. They can just walk over," he said.

Top to bottom, the USS Ronald Reagan is 20 stories tall.

Floating city

Miller described the USS Ronald Reagan as a "floating city" complete with barber shop, beauty store, and even a mini-movie theater. Cooks work around the clock to churn more than 18,000 meals a day.

The USS Ronald Reagan is one of nine Nimitz Class aircraft carriers in the American Navy, and represents a newer class of carriers, which are powered by two nuclear reactors that can run up to 20 years without refueling.

On the flight deck, which measures three football fields laid end to end, 60 fighter jets are parked and ready to fly for immediate deployment.

With the help of catapults that launch a 67,000 pound F-18 Super Hornet from zero to 165mph, four aircraft can takeoff consecutively at 30 second intervals.

The three-day stop here will be a holiday for the crew who have worked 18-hour shifts for the last five months since leaving it's home port at San Diego on Jan 4.