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Africa Partnership Station Nashville Arrives in Gabon

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090415-04
Release Date: 4/15/2009 3:29:00 PM

From Africa Partnership Station Nashville Public Affairs

LIBREVILLE, Gabon (NNS) -- USS Nashville (LPD 13) anchored off the coast of Libreville April 15 for the first of two Gabonese port visits as part of the ongoing Africa Partnership Station (APS) initiative.

While in Libreville, meteorology instruction, Project Handclasp donations and band concerts will be offered before the ship departs for Port Gentil on April 20 for a 12-day port visit. The APS team will conduct engagements both afloat and ashore while there.

"I am very pleased that we have this opportunity to return to Gabon as part of Africa Partnership Station," said Capt. Cindy Thebaud, APS Nashville commander. "Our team looks forward to working with their counterparts in Gabon as well as the opportunity to enjoy the local culture and hospitality."

APS focuses on building cooperative partnerships with regional maritime services in order to achieve common international goals, primarily stability and security.

APS brings an international team of maritime experts, including personnel from Africa, Europe and the Americas, to offer assistance in addressing maritime safety and security challenges such as illegal, unlawful, and unregulated fishing, piracy and drug and human trafficking.

Planned maritime safety and security seminars and workshops aboard Nashville and in Port Gentil will consist of classroom interaction and hands-on skill-building. Topics to be covered include small boat maintenance, search-and-rescue tactics, port security planning, leadership principles, advanced first aid, and maritime intelligence and law enforcement.

In addition to maritime safety and security engagements, the APS Nashville crew will conduct community outreach projects on a daily basis. The projects include improving the local schools and orphanages as well as the delivery of medical, hygiene and school supplies to area clinics, schools and orphanages.

The APS Nashville mission began in January and will run through June. Port visits thus far have included stops in Senegal, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Cameroon. Following the visit to Gabon, APS Nashville will return to Dakar, Senegal.