PANAMA CITY, Panama -- U.S. Ambassador to Panama, William Eaton, formally transferred four new speed boats to Panama's National Maritime Service Director, Rodrigo Cigarruista, during a ceremony Jan. 28 at the Vasco Nunez de Balboa pier.
The U.S. Southern Command formally turned over the four high-tech interceptor speedboats and tracking systems to Panama as part of a program to bolster the ability of Caribbean and Central American maritime forces to counter transnational threats in their territorial waters.
The turnover in Panama City was the fourth such delivery of the Enduring Friendship program, a USSOUTHCOM-spearheaded program that is providing seven nations with speedboats that offer a distinct edge in tracking and pursuing smuggling vessels. Counting the delivery in Panama, the command has provided 10 boats to three nations since deliveries began last year.
Command and regional leaders believe the program's modest investment will yield major long-term security progress in an area that faces many transnational threats, which range from the drug trade and terrorism to the illicit trafficking of humans and weapons.
The 43-foot, diesel-powered interceptor boats are top-of-the-line vessels fitted with the latest state-of-the-art communications and radar suites and can reach a speed of 60 mph. The boats are supplied by the Florida-based companies, Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats and Naples Yachts. The command also provides boat docks, trailers and pickup trucks for each boat.
Monday's ceremony was the culmination of nearly a year of work by the U.S. and Panama. Leading up to the turnover, about 35 Panamanian service members completed a 60-day training course held at the Lee County High Tech Central campus in Fort Myers, Fla. The course familiarized them with the unique features of the interceptor boats and refined their maritime patrolling skills.