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EOD Divers Conduct Routine Sweeps of Djibouti Port

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070924-26
Release Date: 9/24/2007 7:11:00 PM

By Staff Sgt. Kenya Shiloh, Commander Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa Public Affairs

DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti (NNS) -- Members of Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 from Sigonella and Sicily, conducted a routine force protection dive near the Djibouti port, Sept. 11.

The unit belongs to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). They are just one part of an important mission to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect coalition interests in order to prevail against extremism.

“We conduct sweeps of the piers U.S. ships may dock into along with any boats that may come in contact with the vessels such as pilot, tug and security boats. Basically any vessel that comes within proximity of the ship,” said Lt. Eric Vik, EODMU 8 officer in charge.

These dives, which are conducted by many EOD units throughout the world, are performed on all U.S. naval ships pulling into port and used to prevent anyone from placing explosives on or under service vessels and piers. According to Vik, the unit tries to prevent incidents that would cause significant damage or casualties to U.S. ships or service members when pulling into foreign ports.

While conducting this dive, Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal and dive supervisor Melissa Tackitt, said that while the two teams are underwater checking for anything out of the ordinary, her job is to make sure they are safe.

“As a diving supervisor, I conduct safety checks with the divers before they enter the water to make sure their equipment is rigged properly and I watch the divers in the water to make sure they’re safe,” she said. “I also have to keep track of their bottom time to make sure they’re not under too long.”

During their deployment, the team has not run into any problems while conducting these routine dives.

“These dives are always important because they allow our fellow Sailors and service members rest easier and concentrate on their jobs instead of worrying if they are going to be victims of another terrorist attack like the USS Cole,” Vik said. “If terrorists were to successfully place an explosive onto a vessel, turning it into a weapon and using it against U.S. assets, especially on 9/11, they would be making a profound statement and would create panic and fear in the eyes of the free world.”

About 1,800 people from each military branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, civilian employees, and representatives of Coalition and Partner countries make up CJTF-HOA. They include Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Yemen, Seychelles, Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.