The US Navy’s landing platform dock USS Nashville is on its way from Rota, Spain to Dakar, Senegal, for a first stop on its annual Africa Partnership Station (APS) cruise that aims to enhance maritime safety and security in West and Central Africa.
The Nashville sailed from Rota last week Wednesday and will arrive at Dakar this week for a “series of seminars, workshops and hands-on training with their Senegalese counterparts” according to US Africa Command.
The training will include sessions on port security planning, small boat maintenance, medical training and oceanographic methods. “All of the activities are based on specific requests from Senegalese officials”, APS chief Captain Cindy Thebaud said. She is also commodore of US Navy 6th Fleet Destroyer Squadron 60.
“We are moving forward with a singular effort to enhance existing friendships and build new partnerships while engaging in a number of maritime safety and security areas with our Senegalese Navy partners,” she adds.
Meanwhile, Senegal Navy Lieutenant Commander Omar Wade says his nation’s navy is looking forward to working with APS Nashville Sailors.
“We see APS as a promising US Navy-led initiative that, along with our international partners, will create the foundation for future regional cooperation in meeting our common maritime concerns,” said Wade, part of APS Nashville’s embarked international staff in comments posted on the Africom website.
The Nashville will make port calls in four other West African countries — Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon on this cruise. APS training will include professional exchanges on a variety of topics, including seamanship, environmental stewardship, fisheries management and maritime awareness, along with numerous humanitarian and civic outreach opportunities, Africom adds.
