BNS GODETIA, Gulf of Guinea — The Belgian navy command and logistical support ship BNS Godetia (A 960) conducted a compliant boarding exercise with the Cameroon Navy here, March 5 as part of the European-led Africa Partnership Station West engagement.
The exercise was conducted at the request of the Cameroon navy and was designed to help their special operations unit, Bataillon d'Intervention Rapide, become more accustom to searching large ships for trafficking of drugs.
"The trafficking of drugs from other countries through Africa to destinations in Europe has become a significant issue," said Royal Netherlands Marines Corps Maj. Serge Doreleyers, embarked onboard the Godetia from the Bamako-Mali (West Africa) UN Peacekeeping School. "By helping our African partners train in these types of scenarios we are improving maritime safety and security in this region and in Europe."
In the exercise, Godetia played the part of a merchant vessel that was suspected to be trafficking drugs. As the crew and embarked personnel looked on, nine BIR team members from the Douala Naval base boarded Godetia via two rigged hull inflatable boats. The BIR team made their way to the bridge to check the ships documents and search the crew.
"They had the right gear, and they were very professional," said Belgian navy Chief Petty Officer Bart Dewachter, one of the sailors who participated in the exercise. "They worked as a team with each person covering their own sector. It seemed to me that every man knew what he had to do. They really showed the best of themselves."
After searching the personnel on the bridge, the BIR team members continued on searching compartments throughout the ship until they found multiple packages in two different compartments dress up to be drugs. The exercise was then concluded and BIR team members debriefed with the crew of the Godetia before leaving.
"This training is complementary to the type of training we already receive in BIR because it is a different way to do the same thing," said Cameroon navy Capt. Ndikum Azieh, one of five BIR embarked students aboard the Godetia who observed the exercise. "Now when we go back and train our people, we will know how other navies conduct boarding operations and that makes us better trainers."
Godetia is homeported in Zeebrugge, Belgium, and is the second non-U.S. ship to execute an 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.
During this deployment, Godetia will visit Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal.