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Countries, Navies Gather for Africa Partnership Station 2012 Planning Conference

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110520-02
5/20/2011

From Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- More than 250 military, government and civilian personnel from African, European and South American countries and the United States met in Norfolk the week of May 16 to begin planning for 2012 Africa Partnership Station (APS) engagements.

APS is an international initiative that aims to improve maritime safety and security in Africa and has experienced steady growth in African, as well as European and South American involvement, since its inception in 2007.

APS participant countries work together and train together to properly face maritime issues challenging African nations.

"We all know the issues: illegal fishing, illegal oil bunkering, maritime transport of narcotics, human trafficking, piracy," said Ambassador James D. McGee, foreign policy advisor at U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa. "APS is the perfect vehicle to address these issues."

Through the professional development of navies and coast guards, partner nations will be able to protect valuable resources and territorial rights, said McGree

During the APS main planning conference, 18 African, four European, one South American and U.S. representatives came together to begin developing plans for maritime exercises, training events and port visits in Africa for 2012.

"The security of the sea belongs to all of us; however, there are threats preventing us from harvesting the resources of the sea," said Commodore Andrew Dacosta, director of training for the Nigerian navy. "APS has helped us realize the needs for collaboration, cooperation for the collective security of the maritime environment."

Dacosta said 80 percent of countries in the world have a coastline and most of the world's population lives within 500 kilometers of the coast.

"We have a common maritime heritage, so let's come together to protect it," said Dacosta.

APS 2011 is currently ongoing with the next training engagement scheduled for June 2011 in Douala, Cameroon.

APS began as a series of training engagements and port visits on the west coast of Africa but has grown into a platform of international partnerships and maritime security training from multiple countries.

Since 2009, APS has expanded to include the eastern waters of the continent with countries such as Mozambique, Seychelles and Tanzania.