[size=14pt]US warship arrives Nigeria with relief materials[/size]
…As Nigerian Navy promises increased maritime security
By PHILIP NWOSU
Tuesday, August 02, 2011




The Nigerian Navy said it would be beefing up its forward operational bases with state-of-the-art technological equipment to enable proper policing of the country’s territorial waters.
The force said it will replicate the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (RMAC) equipment in its FOBs located in Badagry, Lagos; Ibaka in Akwa Ibom State and Bonny in Rivers States.


The US Navy-funded RMAC programme, Daily Sun learnt was coastal surveillance programme, which uses an automatic identification system and ground-based radar and sensors to enhance awareness of maritime traffic.

The project, it was learnt, was coordinated by the US Department of Defense and the Department of State.
The RMAC system was integrated into the Maritime Safety and Security Information System, a global database to track ships all over the world.
The RMAC system enables Nigerian Navy ships on patrol to be vectored to vessels of interest with precision,

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor told journalists shortly after receiving a delegation from the visiting United States non-commissioned mine countermeasures and sea basing vessel, the HSV 2 Swift which arrived Lagos on Sunday.
According to him, the Nigerian Navy was fully prepared to train with the HSV 2 Swift complements on areas bordering on maritime security.

He said the training between the United States Navy and its Nigerian counterpart was not taken for granted as it was geared to better humanity, especially in the protection of country’s territorial waters.
Earlier, the Captain of the visiting US vessel, Lieutenant Commander Charlie Eaton, told Daily Sun that the visit was under the African Partnership Station, which was a multilateral effort for the improvement of security and safety at sea.
He said 34 countries were involved in the partnership, which he said would also ensure stability and safety in West Africa.

Commander Eaton said the two weeks visit of HSV 2 Swift would involve training in several levels with the Nigerian Navy, adding that there would be training in Law enforcement, tactical combat, maritime law, port security and maritime intelligence.
Apart from the training, Daily Sun learnt that the HSV2 Swift arrives Nigeria with tons of humanitarian relief material, which would be delivered to four organizations in Lagos.

http://odili.net/news/source/2011/aug/2/501.html

Do we need relief in Nigeria?