PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (November 13, 2018) -- USS Green Bay (LPD 20) arrived in Port Moresby today marking second time a U.S. ship has visited Papua New Guinea in two months.

The ship is in Port Moresby to provide security and support the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference to be held Nov. 17-18.

Guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) was the last ship to visit Port Moresby, on Oct. 6, following visits by Under Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Thomas Modly, in September and Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Phil Davidson, in August.

The ship is expected to fly UH-1Y Huey helicopters in the area over the next few days as part of their preparation to support APEC.

Green Bay is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship that was commissioned by the U.S. Navy in 2009. Green Bay is forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan as part of Commander, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet.

LPDs are used to transport and land Marines, their equipment and supplies by embarked Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) or conventional landing craft and amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) augmented by helicopters or vertical take-off and landing aircraft (MV 22). These ships support amphibious assault, special operations or expeditionary warfare missions and can serve as secondary aviation platforms for amphibious ready groups.

Green Bay was named in honor of the city of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the crew is closely tied to the city’s professional football team, the Green Bay Packers.