2003 Press Releases

US Navy Ship HSV Swift's Visit to Freetown

November 24, 2003

Freetown
Contact: DCM Larry André
226-481

The United States Navy ship, the High Speed Vessel (HSV) “Swift” will make a port call at Freetown from 26-27 November 2003. The Swift is one of the most modern vessels in the inventory of the US Navy, having been launched in August 2003. The Swift is a 98-meter Wave Piercing Catamaran designed to transport US Marines quickly around the globe. The HSV-Swift can transport more than 250 combat ready troops, two helicopters and various Rigid Inflatable Boats (RHIBS).

This is the first US Navy ship to make a port call in Sierra Leone since 1991. The HSV Swift is currently conducting operations in support of the West African Training Cruise (WATC). During this exercise the HSV-Swift also visited Libreville, Douala, Accra, Banjul and Dakar. WATC is designed to enhance security cooperation between the United States and West African nations. The port call of the HSV-Swift to Freetown is an integral part of growing security assistance cooperation between the US Department of Defense and the GOSL Ministry of Defense.

More specifically, the port call is an expression of confidence in the increasing stability of Sierra Leone and of appreciation to the Government of Sierra Leone and to UNAMSIL for the outstanding support provided to the U.S. Military during the period when Lungi Airport served as a forward staging base for U. S. forces deployed in support of efforts to establish peace and security in Liberia. ##