The U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge arrives in Wellington, New Zealand, May 16, 2025. (Damian Cook/U.S. Navy)

The amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge arrived in Wellington Harbor last week, marking a historic first visit to New Zealand for the U.S. Navy’s oldest operational warship, the service said.

The ship’s port call Friday was also the first by a U.S. warship in the island nation in four years. The last Navy vessels to visit were the guided-missile destroyers USS Howard in 2021 and USS Sampson in 2016, according to a 7th Fleet news release.

A 1987 New Zealand law bans visits by nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed warships, a longstanding obstacle for many Navy vessels. In keeping with U.S. policy, the Navy does not confirm or deny the presence of nuclear weapons aboard its ships.

However, the law allows the New Zealand prime minister to waive the restriction if satisfied that no nuclear weapons are present.

The Blue Ridge — flagship of the Japan-based 7th Fleet — departed Yokosuka Naval Base on April 3. Since then, it has visited Australia, Fiji and New Caledonia, according to the Navy.

Although the ship serves as a mobile command center during wartime, in peacetime it functions as a platform for diplomacy and humanitarian efforts.

The vessel is “engaging with regional allies and partners to address shared maritime security priorities,” fleet spokesman Victor Murkowski told Stars and Stripes in a May 6 email.

“The work we do with our allies and partners plays a crucial part in our ability to enhance interoperability, deter aggression, and preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he wrote.

Interoperability refers to the ability of armed forces from different countries to use each other’s equipment and training methods effectively.

The Sampson’s 2016 port call was the first visit by a U.S. warship to New Zealand in three decades, following a thaw in military relations that included the 2010 Wellington Declaration aimed at increased cooperation.

New Zealand is part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance with the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. It also occupies a key position in the third island chain, a strategic line stretching from Alaska’s Aleutian Islands through Hawaii and down to New Zealand.

That geography plays a role in the broader island chain strategy — a decades-old military doctrine that has regained focus amid U.S. efforts to counter China’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific. The strategy emphasizes a network of fortified positions across the region to deter or respond to conflict.

The Blue Ridge’s visit reflects the “deep ties” between the U.S. and New Zealand, 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Fred Kacher said in Friday’s release.

“Our partnership is rooted in our common values and respect, and our visit here represents an important opportunity for us to further strengthen the bond between our nations and our navies,” he said.

While in port, 7th Fleet staff will meet with counterparts to discuss “improving operational readiness, advancing future military capabilities, and enhancing the U.S.-New Zealand bilateral relationship overall,” according to the release.

The port call also serves as a refueling and resupplying opportunity, and crew members are also expected to participate in various local activities including performances, ship tours and sightseeing, 7th Fleet said.