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Seabees Work to Improve Maritime Response With Partners in Guatemala

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS130322-18
3/22/2013

From 4th Fleet Public Affairs

KAIBIL, Guatemala (NNS) -- Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202 (CBMU 202) deployed to Guatemala today in support of Southern Partnership Station 2013 (SPS), a 4th Fleet mission to strengthen regional civil and maritime capabilities, supporting a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) initiative to improve maritime response.

Seabees laid 14-cubic yards of cement and upgraded the fast-response launch and maintenance capabilities of Forces Especiales Naval (FEN) Base Kaibil.

According to DEA agent in charge of maritime interdiction in Guatemala, the upgrades are essential and highlight the important skill set of U.S. Navy Seabees.

'We rely on the FEN to carry out our maritime drug interdictions,' he said. 'The previous (boat) ramp was hindering their quick response abilities. The SeaBees bring resources and capabilities unavailable (here). We need their expertise to ensure we can accomplish the mission.'

The Seabees augmented the FEN's abilities by expanding their primary boat ramp.

'We're placing a reinforced concrete pad to simplify their launching procedures,' said Steel Worker 1st Class Martin DeHaven. 'Right now, they're primarily using gravel, and it's inefficient. What we're doing will allow them to improve their quick response times.'

Another important aspect of quick-response missions is maintenance, and the SeaBees are taking steps to improve that requirement as well.

'We're also placing a pad in preparation for a 110-square-foot storage edifice,' added DeHaven. 'The building will give them a place to store their boat motors and equipment, ultimately extending their motor life and reducing maintenance costs.'

The work the Seabees are accomplishing benefits them just as much as the Guatemalan FEN.

'This provides us the avenues necessary to train our younger Seabees in a deployed environment,' said Chief Nick Whitbeck, CBMU 202 officer in charge. 'Also, as a unit, we can exercise and quality-check our deployment execution.'

What the Seabees do while deployed in support of operations such as SPS allows them to build relationships and expand global awareness.

'We (Seabees) are known worldwide as a self-sustainable engineering force,' Whitbeck said. 'When we do missions with partner nations, it helps expand our global presence.'

COMUSNAVSO/COMFOURTHFLT supports U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.