The guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) and senior staff members from US Naval Forces Europe-Africa have visited Morocco for three days as part of the ship’s six-month deployment to western Africa.
The USS Simpson concluded its visit to Casablanca on Thursday. During the visit, the frigate conducted visit, board, search and seizure training with Royal Moroccan Navy personnel and received a tour of the Royal Moroccan Navy vessel Tarik ben Ziyad. The Damen Shipyards SIGMA frigate was commissioned in Morocco on December 23 last year and will be followed by another two of the type.
Staff members from US Naval Forces Europe-Africa met with senior leaders from the Royal Moroccan Navy to strengthen maritime partnerships, while members from US Naval Forces Europe Band conducted two community service projects at a girls’ orphanage and boys’ centre in the city.
Rear Admiral Kenneth “KJ” Norton, deputy chief of staff for strategy, resources, and plans at US Naval Forces Europe-Africa, along with his staff and the crew of Simpson, hosted the US ambassador to Morocco, Samuel Kaplan, his wife and his staff, and top commanders from the Royal Moroccan Navy and Army, honouring the relationship between Morocco and their US partners.
Moroccan Colonel Mohammed Amharouch of the Royal Moroccan Army said he was happy to have the Simpson’s crew visit his country’s world famous city.
“It’s good to form bridges between our two nations,” said Amharouch. “More visits, like the Simpson’s, will help our navies and countries move together into the future with vision.”
Commander Leonard Milliken, Simpson’s commanding officer, commented on the events and training the two countries completed during their time in Casablanca.
“Today was a great day,” said Milliken. “We had tours where we provided training aboard to members of the Royal Moroccan Navy and some of our sailors visited and boarded a Moroccan vessel as well. Our visit to Morocco has been a success.”
Norton also spoke to the guests by offering praise to the Simpson’s crew and stressing the importance of partnership between the US and countries like Morocco.
“I’d like to conclude [the evening] with this thought: maritime security allows for economic opportunity,” said Norton. “And economic opportunity allows for prosperity, and I think that’s in all our best interest.”
The USS Simpson Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate departed its home port of Mayport, Florida, on January 17. It has two embarked MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicles. For the next six-months, the USS Simpson and its two Fire Scouts will support exercises off the west coast of Africa as part of the Africa Partnership Station (APS). The international initiative was developed by US Naval Forces Europe-Africa to improve maritime safety and security in the region as part of US Africa Command’s Security Cooperation programme.
