Dutch Donate 2 River Boats to Senegal During APS Deployment

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Jason Morris | Two river boats, along their Dutch amphibious craft escorts, head inland from the Dutch amphibious ship HNLMS Johan De Witt to a donation ceremony here, Oct. 7. The Dutch government donated two river inspection boats to the Organization de la Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Senegal during a ceremony here, Oct. 7. The boats will be used to survey the length of the Senegal river and were transferred from the Netherlands to Senegal aboard Johan De Witt as part of the first European-led Africa Partnership Station deployment. Johan De Witt is the first European-led APS platform which will be led by the Dutch with the support of Belgium, Portugal and the United States. This endeavor is being conducted in cooperation with U.S. Naval Forces Africa, and will be executed by embarked command and multi-national support elements.  

ST. LOUIS, SENEGAL

10.08.2009

Story by Chief Petty Officer Jason Morris 

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet

ST. LOUIS, Senegal -- As part of the first European-led Africa Partnership Station deployment the Dutch government donated two river inspection boats to the Organization de la Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Senegal here, Oct. 7.

The boats were transferred from the Netherlands to Senegal aboard the APS amphibious transport ship HNLMS Johan De Witt and will be utilized by OMVS to rehabilitate the Senegal River.

"The boats will be used to survey the length of the Senegal river in order to ascertain if the waters are navigable for vessel traffic from the ocean inwards to Mali," said Dutch Lt. Cmdr. Raymund Tromp, civil military coordination officer aboard Johan De Witt. "The greater access to the waterway will benefit the regional economic development."

The boats where presented to OMVS at a ceremony, attended by the Netherlands Ambassador to Senegal, the honorable Gerben de Jong, the governor and major of St. Louis, and the president of OMVS, Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug.

"OMVS is a very important organization for Senegal, not only for economic development, but also as a political forum," said de Jong. "The Netherlands is renowned for the expertise in water management and therefore is a natural partner of the OMVS and the four countries."

In addition to the river inspection boats two pallets of books were also donated by the late Gerti Hesseling, a college professor from Leiden, Netherlands who conducted extensive research on Senegal.

"For me, these three donations underline the value of APS and the international commitment to ensure proper use of the sea," said Dutch Capt. Ben Bekkering, commanding officer, Johan De Witt. "The survey boats will make the Senegalese river a stronger lifeline and the books will allow students to gain knowledge."

After leaving the waters of St. Louis, Johan De Witt will head for Dakar where the crew will provide training to 15 Senegalese Sailors on boat operations, maintenance and maritime law enforcement.

During this deployment, Johan De Witt will visit Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia Ghana, and Cape Verde.

Johan De Witt, a landing platform dock amphibious ship homeported in Den Helder, Netherlands, is the first non-U.S. ship to execute APS mission. APS, a U.S. Navy original initiative, is an international effort aimed at improving maritime safety and security for the continent of Africa through training and other collaborative activities with African partner countries.

• Date Taken: 10.08.2009
• Date Posted: 10.08.2009 09:41
• Story ID: 39826
• Location: ST. LOUIS, SN