Cuba: High Speed Vessel 2 Project Handclasp On-Load in Guantanamo

High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift arrived at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 14, to prepare for the final stop of its four-month mission during HSV-Southern Partnership Station 2012 (HSV-SPS 12).

Swift stopped in Cuba to on-load more than $4 million of Project Handclasp supplies scheduled to be delivered in Cap-Haitien, Haiti.

Project Handclasp is a U.S. Navy program that accepts and transports educational, humanitarian and goodwill materials donated by America’s private sector on a space-available basis aboard Navy ships for distribution to foreign nation recipients.

“Swift’s unique design allows us to transport these supplies quickly and efficiently,” said Cmdr. Garry Wright, HSV-SPS 12 mission commander. “Project Handclasp illustrates how having great partnerships in the Caribbean can really have an impact.”

While in Guantanamo Bay, Swift on-loaded cargo that included more than 200 pallets of supplies. The pallets included medical supplies, disinfectant, an ultrasound machine, books, and high-calorie meals. Swift also took-on two pick-up trucks to be delivered in Haiti.

“The ship was designed to carry cargo very quickly from one point to another,” said Lt. Christopher Ganske, Swift’s supply officer. “It is nice to get the opportunity to use the ship for that purpose, and at the same time have an impact on the Haitian community.”

The Project Handclasp off-load will compliment Seabee, Marine and Naval Criminal Investigative Service HSV-SPS 12 missions in Haiti. The Swift will be in Haiti for three weeks, working with Haitian and United Nations personnel to exchange knowledge in the areas of security, public health, and construction. The stop in Haiti follows visits to the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama and Peru.

“The mission has been a great success thus far,” said Wright. “Our upcoming visit in Haiti will be the keystone of this deployment, highlighting the capabilities of the ship and its service members, as well as the partnerships we have created over the last four months.”

Southern Partnership Station is an annual deployment of U.S. ships to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in the Caribbean and Latin America. The mission’s primary goal is information sharing with navies, militaries and civilians in the region.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) supports U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

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Naval Today Staff , February 16, 2012; Image: navy