USS Samuel B. Roberts Arrives in Dar Es Salaam to Engage with APS Hub

Guided-missile frigate, USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) arrived in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Aug. 1, to begin its engagement with Africa Partnership Station (APS) East’s Tanzania hub.

The Tanzania hub will involve armed service members from Tanzania, Uganda and Djibouti, taking courses including small boat maintenance and operations, search and rescue (SAR) planning, fisheries, senior snlisted leadership, hydrography and maritime intelligence.

This will be the second APS hub in which Samuel B. Roberts has participated on its current deployment. During this hub Samuel B. Roberts´ Sailors will lead instruction in a SAR planning course and participate in a community relations (COMREL) project. The ship will also host a reception for the U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania, the Honorable Mr. Alfonso E. Lenhardt.

Samuel B. Robert’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Angel Cruz, said his crew and ship are ready to show the people of Tanzania what Samuel B. Roberts has to offer.

“We are really looking forward to being in Tanzania,” said Cruz. “It will be great to get people aboard our ship and show them around. It’s a constant fight to keep a ship looking good and running smoothly, so it will be nice to bring some people on board and let them see the fruit of our efforts.”

Cruz also said his Sailors would get a chance to get out and see what Tanzania has to offer.

“Our guys work incredibly long, hard hours when we are underway,” said Cruz. “When we pull into port we try our best to get them out, off the ship so they can enjoy themselves and broaden their horizon. Tanzania has a rich culture and we want our Sailors to experience the very best of that culture.”

The hub will end with a graduation ceremony at the Tanzania Naval Training School Aug 5.

APS is an international security cooperation initiative, facilitated by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and collaborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security in Africa.

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Source: navy, August 3, 2011;