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Manda Bay Boat Ramp Eases Training Operations

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060308-12
Release Date: 3/8/2006 6:59:00 PM

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cindy Dorfner, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Affairs

MANDA BAY, Kenya (NNS) -- A new boat ramp here is making Kenyan and American force training operations a little easier thanks to the U.S. Naval Construction Force’s Seabee Battalions, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 and Underwater Construction Team 1, part of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA).

The completed Manda Bay boat ramp project, officially dedicated Feb. 28, allows the Kenyan navy smoother access to patrols along coastal and international waters.

“The Kenyan navy and surrounding communities will benefit greatly from this ramp,” said Maj. Gen. P.O. Awitta, commander of the Kenyan navy. “We’re very thankful to the coalition for helping us complete this important project, which will enhance our training and capabilities in the region.”

Before the construction of the boat ramp, Kenyan Naval personnel, along with U.S. Navy personnel based out of Manda Bay, were at the mercy of scheduling and Mother Nature for operations.

With no choice but to use a crane, which costs $40,000 a month, to get boats in the water, the schedule was dependent upon the availability of the crane operator, said Engineman 2nd Class Jeffrey Waldron. While the crane operator’s schedule is mostly flexible, getting the boat into and out of the water by crane is only possible during high tide.

“Sometimes high tide is at 10 a.m. and there’s not another one until midnight,” Waldron said. “Recovering the boat isn’t possible during low tide, so we might have to wait in the water until the next high tide.”

The ramp, which took three months to complete, can reach up to 10 meters above sea level at low tide.

Getting into the water is important to those at Manda Bay. Not only do Kenyan patrol operations take place along the coast, but U.S. Sailors also conduct maritime operations training with the Kenyan Navy.

“We get them in the water and teach them boat familiarization,” Waldron said. “We also take them out to the range and get them comfortable with weapons. We train them on how to board a vessel and conduct searches. It’s very valuable training.”

CJTF-HOA is made up of U.S. joint forces, the U.S. Department of State and more than two dozen coalition forces from around the globe. The group conducts operations and training to assist host nations establish a secure environment and enable regional stability.