America has donated two patrol boats value over $1 million to Tanzania, the most recent of a number of current donations to African navies.
The 2 boats have been handed over to the Tanzanian Navy throughout a ceremony in Dar es Salaam on 16 December 2022. The US Embassy in Tanzania stated the boats, value $1.35 million, will strengthen the Navy’s potential to interdict illicit actions inside the sovereign waters of Tanzania.
The donation included restore and upkeep gear, towing autos, and a two-week coaching course. The boats seem like manufactured by US firm SAFE Boats. One is a ten.5 metre Interceptor mannequin whereas the opposite is an 11.5 metre enclosed cabin command boat.
US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Raines stated the donation was a continuation of the USA’ longstanding partnership with the Tanzania Folks’s Defence Power (TPDF) within the safety enviornment, which incorporates ongoing help to assist develop each Tanzania’s navy and drug enforcement forces.
“America continues to face with Tanzania in its efforts to fight maritime threats, and I’m sure these new boats will strengthen Tanzania’s potential to safe its maritime territory,” he stated.
The boat donation to Tanzania got here days earlier than the US Navy’s expeditionary sea base vessel USS Hershel “Woody” Williams made a cease in Tanzania and spent Christmas there. The US Navy stated the vessel arrived in Dar es Salaam on 22 December.
The go to marked the second time Hershel “Woody” Williams made a cease in Tanzania in 2022. The ship’s final go to was in August and was the primary go to by a US Navy ship to Tanzania in additional than a decade.
“The US and Tanzania have cast a partnership spanning greater than 60 years with a basis primarily based on safety, security, and freedom of navigation, as these waters are important for Africa’s safety and prosperity. Port visits like this reveal the US’ steadfast dedication to African companions of their pursuit of security and safety cooperation,” the US Navy stated.
One other current instance of defence cooperation was in November 2022 when US particular forces performed a Joint Mixed Alternate Coaching (JCET) train with Tanzanian particular forces.
The boat donation to Tanzania got here shortly after an analogous donation to Mozambique. On 7 December, as a part of ongoing safety cooperation between the USA and Mozambique, the US Authorities offered a ten meter coastal patrol boat to the Mozambican Navy.
Along with the boat, Mozambican Navy officers will take part in coaching supplied by SAFE Boats, the US Navy stated. The high-speed boat is valued at $700 000 and is used for interdictions and maritime boarding operations.
“This donation is a part of a broader set of safety help programmes designed to boost the resiliency of the Mozambican Navy in preventing terrorism and transnational organized crime all through Mozambique. These programmes embody Worldwide Navy Schooling and Coaching (IMET), three Joint Mixed Alternate Coaching (JCET) programmes, a Maritime Upkeep and Logistics Advisor programme, and gear donations designed to enhance, keep, and help the Navy within the execution of its defence technique,” the US Embassy stated of the Mozambican handover.
