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USNS Spearhead Arrives in Ghana

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS160201-11
Release Date: 2/1/2016 12:48:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Amy M. Ressler, USNS Spearhead Public Affairs

SEKONDI, Ghana (NNS) -- Military Sealift Command's expeditionary fast transport vessel USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1) arrived in Sekondi, Ghana, for a scheduled port visit Jan. 30.

This serves as the first port visit for Spearhead in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS); the ship is scheduled to embark members of the host nationals who will work alongside U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment members for maritime security exercises.

Quote:

'I am looking forward to working in collaboration with our African partner nations for capacity building and 'increased interoperability in maritime domain management.' - Lt. Gary Callahan, APS 2016 deputy mission commander

Quick Facts:

*Spearhead is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to support the international collaborative capacity-building program Africa Partnership Station.

*While on deployment, Spearhead brings a unique set of capabilities to the U.S. 6th Fleet AOO. Its crew comprises Sailors and civil service mariners with a wide range of capabilities from engineering specialist to a fully outfitted Embarked Security Team (EST).

*The 338-foot-long aluminum catamaran is capable of carrying 600 tons of military troops, vehicles, supplies, and equipment, and can transit 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. It has a 20,000-square-foot mission bay area that can be reconfigured to adapt to whatever mission the ship is tasked with. Anything from carrying a containerized portable hospital to supporting disaster relief or transporting tanks and troops.

*U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.