Accra, Sept.7, GNA - The 226-foot Military Sealift Command tug USNS Apache arrived in Sekondi on September 3 to participate in a military exercise with the Ghanaian Navy as part of the United States' ongoing effort to strengthen its emerging partnership with the country. During the exercise, divers from Apache's Embarked Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two would conduct a series of dives with Ghanaian divers designed to familiarize the sailors with various dive tools and techniques, build their experience and sharpen the skills they need to work effectively in a multinational environment.

A release from the Public Affairs Section, Embassy of the United States of America, Accra, on Thursday said this is Apache's fourth week in Africa's Gulf of Guinea Region.

It said prior to arriving in Ghana, Apache was in Liberia surveying shipwrecks in three of the country's ports as well as making improvements to a commercial pier in Liberia's capital city of Monrovia.

Since arriving in the area, which forms part of U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operation, last April the Ship has conducted a number of dive exercises with NATO and U.S. partner nations similar to the exercise currently taking place in Ghana. These nations include France, Albania, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania.

Chief Warrant Officer Peter Sharpe, officer-in-charge of MDSU Two, said the divers and crew aboard Apache had gained a good deal of insight and experience from their time in West Africa thus far and would relish their upcoming collaboration with the Ghanaian Navy. "This exercise is a wonderful opportunity to train alongside our partners in Ghana, share information and build ties between our two Navies," said Sharpe.

When she is not participating in military exercises, Apache provides towing services and operates as a platform for divers in the recovery of downed ships and aircraft.

The Ship is operated by 16 U.S. civil service mariners employed by Military Sealift Command (MSC).

MSC operates the U.S. Navy's fleet of more than 120 non-combatant, civilian-crewed ships that deliver combat equipment to troops; re-supply Navy ships at sea; chart the ocean floor and perform a variety of other missions for the Department of Defence.