(Monrovia, February 4, 2014) —The U.S. Government has donated US$2.2 million in equipment and facilities, including two pursuit boats, to the Liberian Coast Guard to enable it to better patrol and protect Liberia’s coastal waters.
In addition to the 33-foot Special Purpose Craft-Law Enforcement (SPC-LE) pursuit boats, the donation includes two Ford F-350 trucks, two Polaris 800 4×4 utility vehicles, and two containers of additional equipment and spare parts totaling a value of US$1.1 million.
Ambassador Deborah Malac said the U.S. Government also provided an additional US$1 million to construct a new four-bay boathouse, small office building and to provide electricity and water for the buildings.
U.S. Coast Guard Commander Patrick Clark said the new boats provide the Liberian Coast Guard with an enhanced capability to better patrol the waters off Liberia’s coast, more rapidly respond to search and rescue cases, and protect maritime critical infrastructure, such as offshore oil and gas operations.
The new equipment was transferred from the U.S. flagged merchant vessel, OCEAN CRESCENT, to LCG Station Freeport in January.
Training with the new pursuit boats started on January 20 and, as announced by the Armed Forces of Liberia, the boats will be commissioned this month as part of the Armed Forces Day celebrations.
