As reported on Saturday 7th August 2021, it was confirmed that the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams, which is the first ship permanently assigned to Africa, arrived in Lagos state,Nigeria’s largest commercial capital city.
Her arrival was part of the U.S. government’s support to combat piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and the water ways close of Nigeria.
Analysing on her arrival, Claire Pierangelo the U.S. Consul General in Lagos, told reporters on Saturday that “Ship visits like this one clearly demonstrate the U.S.’s continued dedication to our partners in the Gulf of Guinea as they struggle for the security of their resources, economy, and people,”
Futhermore, he said that the West African states loses about 800,000+ tons of fish a year, worth almost $2 billion in gross revenue, to illegal activities by both domestic and foreign vessels.
The Hershel “Woody” Williams captain also added that “We’re here to train and work with the Nigerian Navy on anti-piracy, tactics, techniques, and procedures,” Captain Chad Graham said.
In recent years the seafares and ship owners had seen the most dangerous part of the maritime world in Nigerian waters ways which is at the center of the Gulf of Guinea, a vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean linked from Senegal to Angola. This areas had been the kidnapping and snatching of ships key points for sea pirates .
The sailors question may be could this be a stop to piracy in the Gulf of Guinea,? can the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams help liberate Nigeria water ways from pirates!
All these questions will be in the mine of sailors trading in the Gulf of Guinea area.
