Nairobi — The US Navy and their Kenyan counterparts began trainings aboard an American warship that docked at the Port of Mombasa on Wednesday.

The US warship is on a four-month mission to boost security between Africa and the Middle East.

A police dog ensures that journalists' equipment is safe before they were allowed into the US Naval ship.

The Ship-USS Momsen (DDG 92) docked at the port with 290 crewmembers and 30 officers and will begin maritime surveillance this weekend.

The first team of Kenya Navy officers were involved in training by their US counterparts for the better part of yesterday.

The Ship's executive officer, Lieutenant Jake Douglas, said the training would include damage control.

He added that during their operations in Africa and the Middle East, major focus would be on piracy and terrorism.

The visit of the ship comes in the wake of reports that members of the Al-Qaeda network could be holed up between Kenya and Somalia, with plans of avenging US attacks in Somalia.

During the occasion, the US Ambassador said the Grand Coalition Government would succeed only if the National Peace Accord was implemented to the letter. He said the survival of the coalition and Kenya's relationship with the US would depend on the quick and proper implementation of the accord, adding that cracking the agenda on land, electoral and constitutional reforms was crucial and must be implemented.

"The future of our relationship with Kenya will depend on the implementation of the reform agenda in the accord," he said.