Cebu City (27 April) -- The Philippines will host the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training or CARAT 09 Exercise May 21-28, 2009. This is an annual bilateral exercise that embodies the spirit of the longstanding cooperative relationship between the Philippine Navy and the United States Navy.

This is the 15th CARAT exercise both Navies have participated in.

CARAT 09 exercise will help build the regional assistance capacity for multinational maritime operations. Its goal is to strengthen the cooperation between the Philippine Navy and US Navy in deterring intercontinental and trans-border crimes, piracy and maritime terrorism which are growing concerns of the global community.

This year's exercise will incorporate on-deck and at-sea trainings, a naval tactical exercise, patrol and surveillance exercise, a gunnery exercise, symposia covering military operations and law, a subject matter expert exchange between the Philippine Navy and the US Navy sailors and marines as well as a joint amphibious landing of the fleet-marine forces of the two Navies.

Humanitarian projects are an important part of the exercise. These include community service activities, engineering projects, and several free medical and dental service clinics.

The participating ships and units of the Philippine Navy are; BRP Dagupan City (LCC-551), BRP Carlos Albert (Patrol Gunboat 375), BRP Bienvinido Salting (Patrol Gunboat 112), Naval Special Operations Unit- 5, Naval Air Unit Central’s Philippine Navy Islander (PNI-320) and the members of the Philippine Marine Corps.

The US Navy participating force consists of one naval aircraft (P-3C Orion) and four ships: USS HARPERS FERRY (LSD-49), USS CHAFEE (DDG 90) w/SH-60 Seahawk, USS JOHN S MCCAIN (DDG 56), USNS SAFEGUARD (ARS 50). The member of the US Marine Corps will also join in this exercise.