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Coast Guard Cutter Dallas to Visit Equatorial Guinea

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080707-05
Release Date: 7/7/2008 3:15:00 PM

By Public Affairs Specialist 1st Class Tasha Tully, USCGC Dallas Public Affairs

USCGC DALLAS At sea (NNS) -- The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas (WHEC 716) is scheduled to arrive in the West African nation of Equatorial Guinea July 8 for a three-day visit.

Dallas, a 378-foot cutter home ported in Charleston, S.C., is currently deployed off the coast of West and Central Africa in support of U.S. Naval Forces Europe's Africa Partnership Station (APS) initiative.

From June 6 to July 7, two Equatorial Guinea Navy officers, Lt. Placido Ndong and Lt. Pablo Nkisogo, sailed aboard Dallas and practiced maritime law-enforcement tactical-team movements, small-boat operations, damage control/fire fighting, as well as Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) familiarization. Immediate feedback was given to each participant regarding techniques, tactics and procedures in order to provide the most beneficial learning environment.

"We are a young Navy, and I believe that the training we've received while aboard Dallas will better prepare us for various situations while encountering illegal activities at sea," said Ndong, executive officer of the Equatorial Guinean Navy ship Estuario Del Muni. "We will definitely bring this knowledge back to our members and help train them to know how to better control our zone of responsibility."

In addition, Ndong and Nkisogo trained side-by-side with Cape Verde and Sao Tome & Principe Coast Guard members during their time aboard Dallas.

"Training with the Cape Verdean and American Coast Guard members was well organized and intense," said Nkisogo, executive officer of the Equatorial Guinean Navy ship Cabo San Juan. "We enjoyed seeing the way the U.S. Coast Guard functions with great order and discipline, and we will take the "shipmate" concept back with us and train our members.

"This was a valuable experience, and next time we hope to bring more of our members for the training."

Dallas' operations afforded an opportunity for the officers to have a first-hand view of the various vessels transiting the Equatorial Guinea Exclusive Economic Zone. Dallas identified both fishing and commercial vessels and demonstrated the value of over-the-horizon patrol capabilities.

"One of the primary objectives of APS is to foster partnerships among the various navies and coast guards within West and Central Africa," said Captain Robert Wagner, commanding officer of Dallas.

"Having Lieutenants Ndong and Nkisogo aboard Dallas for the last month was a tremendous opportunity to share common experiences and learn from one another."

APS is a U.S. Naval Forces Europe-led long-term initiative with a goal of enabling maritime safety and security in West and Central Africa. The program operates with the cooperative support of a variety of military, governmental and non-governmental organizations from the United States, Africa and Europe.

For more news from COMNAVEUR/COMSIXTHFLT, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/naveur/.