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Maritime
Security News - USA, Djibouti |
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U.S.
Department of State delivers two Metal Shark 28 Defiant boats to the
Navy of Djibouti |
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The
U.S. Department of State has provided the Djiboutian navy with two high-speed
aluminum coastal security boats to strengthen Djibouti's maritime security
capabilities to protect its borders and combat piracy, smuggling and
terrorist threats. During a boat delivery and turnover ceremony at the
Djibouti Navy Headquarters, Escale Marina, more than a dozen Djiboutian
sailors received certification for the state-of-the-art patrol boats.
"On the occasion of receiving two speedboats, I thank our U.S.
forces partners for their support in the development of our navy,"
said Col. Abdourahman Aden Cher, Djibouti navy commander. |
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Recently
selected by the US Coast Guard as the standard platform for the Response
Boat – Small (RB-S) program, the 28 Defiant is a multi mission
vessel in which crew can work safely and comfortably.
Picture: Metal Shark Boats
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The
boats, Metal Shark 28 Defiants, follow the recent implementation of
Djibouti's 12 nautical mile-reaching Regional Maritime Awareness Capability
system and Automatic Identification System receivers that enable detection
of maritime activities within about 100 nautical miles. These assets
enhance Djibouti's maritime security capability to monitor the more
than 20,000 vessels that transit annually through the Bab el-Mandeb
Strait. |
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Djiboutian
navy and U.S. service members assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn
of Africa (CJTF-HOA) participate in a demonstration of the newly received
Metal Shark 28 Defiant boats during a ceremony at Djibouti Navy Headquarters,
April 4, 2013. CJTF-HOA helped turn over the two speedboats to the Djiboutian
navy to help enhance its maritime security capabilities and protect
the Djiboutian coastline, fight piracy and combat terrorism. (U.S. Air
Force photo by Staff Sergeant Caleb Pierce)
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"Geographically,
we are a nation of the sea," Lieutenant Col. Ahmed Daher Djama,
Djibouti Navy deputy commander, said. "The center of gravity of
the Djiboutian economy is the sea, so navy capability to protect our
nation is critical in safeguarding our common interests of protecting
the liberty and the life of Djibouti and America."
The U.S. Embassy's security cooperation chief agreed. "Djibouti
is a key partner in the region," U.S. Army Maj. Joseph Guido, said.
"They're in kind of a difficult neighborhood with Eritrea, Somalia
and Yemen being neighbors, and it is critical Djibouti has the capacity
it needs to effectively control its borders." |
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Djiboutian
navy and U.S. service members assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn
of Africa participate in a demonstration of the newly received Metal
Shark 28 Defiant boats during a ceremony at Djibouti Navy Headquarters,
April 4, 2013. The occasion marked Djiboutian sailors' completion of
training to operate two U.S.-sponsored speedboats that will enhance
the navy's maritime security capabilities to protect its borders, fight
piracy and combat terrorism. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant
Caleb Pierce)
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Djibouti's
(off-shore) jurisdiction is 12 nautical miles from its coastline, Djama
noted, and Yemen is 16 nautical miles from Djibouti, at the nearest
point.
Overall, Guido stressed the importance of continually fostering the
partnership between Djibouti and the U.S. given the volume of commercial
and Navy traffic going through its straits.
"Djibouti has proven to be the eye of calm in the hurricane that
revolves around them," Major Guido said. "Our partnership
is very strong and the Djiboutian navy development program is robust."
Overall, Col. Abdourahman said he considers the turnover of the two
boats an important milestone in the U.S. assistance in defeating violent
extremist organizations and transnational threats, and in strengthening
Djibouti's ability to promote security and maintain stability as an
independent nation and a key player in the Horn of Africa region.
"Indeed, with the radar surveillance system and the acquisition
of the fast patrol boats provided by the United States, these two stars
will strengthen our actions, interventions and identifications of suspicious
activity," Col. Abdourahman said.
By Tech. Sergeant Kelly White CJTF-HOA Public Affairs |
