During
the exercise, Spearhead played the role of a suspect vessel, which provided
participating nations at multiple maritime operations centers (MOCs),
located in various areas, the opportunity to track the ship's movement.
The communication between the MOCs mirrors real-world situations where
regional information sharing plays a vital role in successful operations.
Other exercise participants engaged in pier side and underway scenarios
such as illegal fishing and counter-illicit trafficking aboard partner
vessels.
"Our engagements with these partner nations help employ techniques
that will help us all deter illegal activities in these waters,"
said Navy Capt. Marc Lederer, the military detachment mission commander
aboard Spearhead.
Improving cooperation, tactical expertise and information sharing
among participating nations in order to increase safety and security
at sea is the overarching exercise goal for the 13 partner nation
participants in this year's exercise.
"It is always an exciting opportunity to engage with these nations,
working hand-in-hand for a safer maritime presence," said Lt.
Cmdr. Steve Murdock, the military detachment's operations officer
aboard Spearhead.
Spearhead, which is on its maiden deployment, is deployed in the
waters off West and Central Africa as part of Africa Partnership Station.
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered
in Naples, Italy, conducts a full range of maritime security operations
and theater security cooperation missions in concert with coalition,
joint, interagency, and other parties in order to advance security
and stability in Europe and Africa.
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Justin R. DiNiro, USNS Spearhead
Public Affairs
