Friday, November 6, 2009

In the News: HSV2 Swift visits Nuoakchott, Mauritania

HSV Swift visits Nuoakchott, Mauritania

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania, November 5, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — By Commander, US Naval Forces Europe-Commander, US Naval Forces Africa/Commander, US Sixth Fleet Public Affairs

High-Speed Vessel 2 Swift (HSV 2) pulled into Nuoakchott, Mauritania, Nov. 5, to conduct a series of military-to-military interactions and theater security cooperation engagements.

While in port crewmembers of the Swift and the commander of the task force Swift is assigned to will host tours and receptions, as well as participate in meetings designed to further the maritime relationship between both nations’ navies. The US Ambassador to Mauritania, Mr. Mark Boulware, will also co-host a reception on Swift.

“This port visit is a further step towards our mutual cooperation and interaction,” said Capt. Martin Beck, Commander, Task Force 368. “It’s been over a year since our last interaction [small training team] with the Mauritanian Navy, and we are excited to be back and working together again.”

There is no official record of a US military vessel visiting Mauritania in recent history and there has only been limited Navy interaction in the last several years, usually only involving small two to three person training teams or delegations.

Swift, a high speed vessel with a hybrid crew of US Navy sailors and civilian mariners is homeported in Naval Station Ingleside, Texas and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va. and is currently on a regularly sechedule deployment in the US 6th Fleet area of responsibility.
SOURCE
US Sixth Fleet Public Affairs