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Press Release
U.S. Military Donates Boats and Equipment to Cameroonian Navy
Yaounde, September 10, 2008
On September 5, 2008, the Defense Attache Office of the United States Embassy in Yaounde provided two boats to the Cameroonian Navy in a handover ceremony held at the Douala Navy Base.
The ceremony marked the culmination of two weeks of intensive joint training between the U.S. and Cameroonian armed forces on operation and basic maintenance of the boats. One of the boats will stay at the Douala Navy Base, while the other will go to the Kribi Naval Base, allowing for a presence in both the north and south of Cameroon’s coast.
Each of the 7-meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIB) is equipped with twin150hp engines, a .50 cal gun mount, a GPS receiver, a VHF radio, and a transport trailer. The Embassy also provided ten 75hp outboard engines and two spare 150hp engines.
The handover comes at a time when maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea are receiving increased attention. The boats will be a beneficial addition to Cameroon’s growing maritime security posture.
Besides the boat donation, the U.S. Military partners with the Cameroonian Navy in numerous other ways, including: the Africa Partnership Station; joint military activities, such as training between Cameroonian Marines and the U.S. Marine Corps in Limbe; and the installation and training of equipment which will allow the Cameroonian Navy to track ships off the country’s coast. Additionally, construction on a new pier at Man O’ War Bay Navy Base in Limbe will begin in February 2009.
For further information, please contact the Information Section of the U.S. Embassy, Yaounde, Tel. 22-20-15-00, x4162 or x4273.
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