SUEZ CANAL (June 21, 2009) - The amphibious transport dock ship USS Ponce (LPD 15) crosses under the Egyptian-Japanese Friendship Bridge in El Qantara, Egypt, while transiting the Suez Canal. Ponce is currently deployed with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. MSO help set the conditions for security and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt illegal use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kristopher Wilson/RELEASED)