US Navy committed to protect West African waters against Maritime security threats, As Senegal, US complete joint maritime operation

By Sainey MK Marenah, Editor Justice Blog

The United States Navy commander for Africa Partnership Station Mission, Commander Mathew Fleming has told journalists at news conference in Senegalese capital Dakar that The United States is committed to work with partners in West Africa in protecting nations against maritime security threats.

Commander Fleming was speaking at the end of the successive Africa maritime Law enforcement Partnership (AMLEP) operation with Senegal and Cabo Verdean maritime security forces.

Operations were conducted from joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1), Senegalese ships and maritime patrol craft, a Portuguese maritime patrol craft, a P-3C Orion from Patrol Squadron 4, and several maritime agencies from Cabo Verde and Senegal.

The efforts of each participating unit led to an overall increase in interoperability and capability to detect and respond to potential illicit activity that threatens freedom and security in the global commons.
 “The U.S. Navy is always eager to improve interoperability with regional partners in order to leverage a Global Network of Navies, which is the synthesis of like-minded navies pooling resources to achieve common goals.”

“The lessons learned and the relationships established over the last few weeks will prove invaluable. We not only learned a lot about one another; we learned how to work together. We specifically focused on improving detection, boarding, and law enforcement activities in order to better combat ongoing and future illicit activity.”

“Our embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment personnel, along with the Senegalese and Cabo Verdean maritime enforcement teams, were able to successfully patrol and then enforce maritime law in the surrounding territorial waters.” Says  Cmdr. Matthew Flemming, Africa Partnership Station mission commander

According to US Navy officials, AMLEP is the operational phase of Africa Partnership Station, the international theater security cooperation initiative which seeks to enhance African maritime forces’ capacity to conduct maritime security operations through a continuum of activities.

APS is the mechanism by which international maritime forces — the Global Network of Navies — share professional skills, knowledge and experience to enhance collective efforts to combat sea-borne illicit activity.During the two successive AMLEP operations two combined maritime operation centers (MOCs), one in Cabo Verde and one in Senegal, served to sustain a common operational picture and tactically directed participating units to deter potential illicit activity.

Maritime security forces from both Cabo Verde and Senegal embarked Spearhead respectively, forming a combined law enforcement boarding team with U.S. Coast Guard counterparts.

The combined boarding team on Spearhead and teams on other ships completed four boardings which resulted in the enforcement of Partner Nation maritime laws.

Senegalese, Portuguese, and U.S. military maritime patrol flights covered more than 11,000 square nautical miles.

Spearhead, a high-speed ferry capable of traveling at speeds up to 35 knots provides a forward-presence for emergent intra-theater transport needs and a platform to work with partner nations in maritime security.

Spearhead, a 338-foot-long aluminum catamaran with a 20,000 square-foot mission bay area, can be reconfigured to allow it to adapt to a wide-range of operations and missions. Potential missions include carrying containerized portable hospitals for disaster relief to transporting tanks and troops.

Spearhead is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to support the international collaborative capacity-building program Africa Partnership Station.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

He said: “ The U.S. Navy is always eager to improve partner nation interoperability in order to leverage a Global Network of Navies, which is the synthesis of like-minded navies pooling resources to achieve common goals. The lessons learned and the relationships established over the last few weeks will prove invaluable. We not only learned a lot about one another; we learned how to work together. We specifically focused on improving detection, boarding, and law enforcement activities in order to better combat ongoing and future illicit activity. Our embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment personnel, along with the Senegalese and Cabo Verdean maritime enforcement teams, were able to successfully patrol and then enforce maritime law in the surrounding territorial waters.

He quoted their Chief of Naval Operations as saying:  “Where there is lawlessness, we must be present.” Established and tested partnerships will help us overcome the challenges that threaten freedom and security in the global commons. Now in its third year, operations like AMLEP aid us in this endeavor. AMLEP has proven to be helpful in collectively increasing safety and stability, and deterring illegal activities in the region.”

He said: “ The past few weeks have truly been an investment in our collective mission effectiveness. The U.S. will continue to invest in this region. It is imperative that we continue to share our ideas and provide innovative solutions to common problems.”

Meanwhile, officials of Senegal Navy and Marine commended the US Government for the partnership while assuring them the knowledge gain during training will be put into good use.

for more images on the US- Senegal Navies in action, click the link below. https://www.flickr.com/photos/cne-cna-c6f/with/16213104268/