A mine countermeasures ship in the US Navy made a port call at a southern port of South Korea on Tuesday, the allies' navies said.

The USS Chief (MCM-14), an Avenger-class vessel, pulled into the Jeju Naval Base as part of a routine port visit, US Naval Forces Korea said.

"Chief is part of Mine Countermeasures Squadron 7 and Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, which is training to enhance its capabilities of finding, classifying and destroying moored and bottom mines," it said.

The ship was greeted by Capt. Glen Leverette, the deputy commander of US Naval Forces Korea, and R. Adm. Kim Jung-Soo, the commander of South Korea's Maritime Task Force Flotilla 7, along with more than 100 South Korean sailors.
 

"The ROK (South Korea) Navy and Flotilla 7 leadership always provide a warm welcome and excellent support to our ships," Leverette was quoted as saying. "The support the Chief has received in planning for this visit is indicative of the strong partnership we maintain between our navies and reflects the strength of the alliance between our two countries."

South Korea's Navy also made photos of the ship public.

It plans to stay there for a week and set sail in early October, taking a break from its patrol of the region with its sailors scheduled to participate in various activities including cultural tours, an official said.

Based in Sasebo, Japan, the 1,400-ton ship is 68 meters long and 16.7 meters wide, carrying around 90 crew members. It can sail at a maximum speed of 14 knots.

It's the fifth foreign ship to make a port call at the Jeju port that opened last year. (Yonhap)