ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire –
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Thetis (WMEC 910) arrived in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, for a scheduled port visit, March 24.
Thetis is the first USCGC to operate in the Africa maritime since 2011. The cutter’s port visit reinforces the strengthening ties between the United States and Cote d’Ivoire.
“My crew and I are looking forward to visiting the city of Abidjan to continue building and strengthening our partnership with Côte d’Ivoire’s maritime services,” said Cmdr. Randall Chong, Thetis’ commanding officer.
While in theater, Thetis is conducting training with African partners on maritime law enforcement to include boarding tactics and techniques to assist them in combatting illegal fishing, trafficking of humans and narcotics, maritime piracy, and environmental pollution.
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquarted in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests, security and stability in Europe and Africa.
Thetis is homeported in Key West, Florida, and is a 270-foot Famous-class medium endurance cutter that specializes in maritime law enforcement operations, specifically counter-narcotics and alien migrant smuggling, and search and rescue operations.