The Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Carson City (T-EPF 7) arrived in Mindelo, Cabo Verde, Aug. 7, for a scheduled port visit in support of its 2019 Africa Partnership Station (APS) deployment to the Gulf of Guinea.
“The USNS Carson City team is honored to be here in Cabo Verde, our fifth and final country in the Gulf of Guinea deployment,” said Cmdr. Tyrone Bruce, officer in charge of the embarked military detachment. “We saved the best for last. Our military engagement teams are eager and ready to work side-by-side with the Cabo Verde military to share best practices and build a stronger, more cohesive bond between our countries. We’re thankful for this opportunity and are looking forward to experiencing the richness of Cabo Verde.”
Prior to its visit to Cabo Verde, Carson City participated in military-to-military engagements in Dakar, Senegal; Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire; Sekondi and Tema, Ghana; and Lagos, Nigeria.
While in Mindelo, embarked forces aboard Carson City are slated to work with their maritime counterparts to conduct small boat logistics and maintenance, visit, board search and seizure engagements, various first-aid scenarios, hospital tours band performances and community outreach.
Embarked Spanish, Portuguese and Italian military will once again work alongside Carson City’s U.S. Sailors and Coast Guardsmen.
“I’m very excited for this visit to Cabo Verde,” said Portugal navy Lt. Cmdr. Ana Patricia Trindade, assigned to Portuguese Naval Fleet Command. “It’s a country where the mother language is Portuguese and with which Portugal keeps close relations. And most of all, I hope to find my old friends who attended the Naval Academy with me.”
A reception is scheduled to be held onboard for distinguished visitors, international guests and official members from the U.S. embassy.
Carson City is currently deployed to the Gulf of Guinea to demonstrate progress through partnerships and U.S. commitment to West African countries through small boat maintenance assistance, maritime law enforcement engagement, and medical and community relations outreach.
APS is U.S. Forces Africa’s flagship maritime security cooperation program focusing on maritime safety and s security through increased maritime awareness, response capabilities, and infrastructure. It consists of the various exercises and operations conducted by U.S., European, and African partners and allies throughout the U.S. Africa Command area of operations.
U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.