20 June 2008
Cape Verde Coast Guard personnel have attended a 12-day training period this month, which was conducted by the US Naval Forces onboard the Dallas, a 378-foot cutter.
The project was part of the US Naval Forces Europe’s Africa Partnership Station (APS) initiative to ensure maritime safety along the coasts of West and Central Africa.
Captain Robert Wagner, Coast Guard commander on the Dallas cutter, told the African Press Organisation: "For the first time, we were able to build upon training provided during previous US visits, allowing the Cape Verdean Coast Guard to practice their skills on the water while enforcing their domestic laws."
The Cape Verdean coast guards had the opportunity to practise a series of activities such as Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) procedures, as well as handcuffing and personnel searching techniques.
Lt. Jose Mario Lopez Tavares, Cape Verde Coast Guard Naval Squadron communications officer, told the APO: "This is vital training for our organization and it will serve to prepare us to better our naval squadron."