The switch ceremony represents the fruits of weeks of preparation, coaching {and professional} exchanges between Egyptian and U.S. Navy Sailors. The U.S. Navy turned over former patrol coastal ships USS Hurricane (PC 3), USS Sirocco (PC 6), and USS Thunderbolt (PC 12) after crusing from Bahrain to Egypt throughout a month-long journey across the Arabian Peninsula, January by means of February.
“The Egypt-U.S. maritime partnership has been a elementary pillar of our bilateral protection cooperation for many years,” stated Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of NAVCENT, U.S. fifth Fleet and Mixed Maritime Forces. “This switch is yet one more main milestone in our robust relationship that may improve regional maritime safety for years to return.”
Through the 4,000-mile transit to Alexandria, U.S. and Egyptian crewmembers labored side-by-side safely navigating the three ships on a voyage that included port visits to Jebel Ali within the United Arab Emirates; Duqm, Oman; Djibouti; and Berenice, Egypt.
U.S. and Egyptian service members continued coaching after the ships arrived in Alexandria, Feb. 12. Classroom classes included discussions on engineering, search and rescue, harm management and weapons dealing with.
“This switch course of was an unbelievable alternative for our crews. It enabled us to strengthen our bilateral ties whereas enhancing our interoperability with a extremely succesful regional maritime companion,” stated Capt. Anthony Webber, commander of Process Drive 55, which oversees operations for U.S. fifth Fleet’s floor forces.
The Egyptian Navy at present instructions Mixed Process Drive 153, one in all 4 multinational job forces organized below U.S.-led Mixed Maritime Forces (CMF). The duty power coordinates multinational maritime safety efforts within the Crimson Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden.
NAVCENT and CMF are headquartered in Manama, Bahrain. They embrace maritime forces working within the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Crimson Sea, components of the Indian Ocean and three crucial choke factors on the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandeb.
