PORT KLANG, 4 MARCH – The United States Coast Guard (USCG) intends to enhance inter-operability with Malaysia for a more stable, free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific region.
The USCG Cutter (USCGC) Bertholf’s commanding officer Captain William L. Mees said that this was among the agency’s priorities as it endeavoured to strengthen relationships with partner nations, with unrestricted, lawful access to the maritime commons.
“We demonstrate our interoperability by working together, by showing how we do things, learning how like-minded partners do things.
“It enhances our capability and it is a force multiplier for the region when we all can work and cooperate together.
“This is what we have been doing the past week – with the Republic of Singapore Navy, the Police Coast Guard of Singapore and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA),” Mees said when the Legend-class maritime national security USCG Cutter Bertholf made a port call at the Port Klang Cruise Terminal.
Mees added that such a cooperation went along with advancing existing rules-based, international order and solidifying the US as a reliable strategic partner for maritime safety, security and prosperity in the region.
“As a trusted partner, the USCG is proud to operate with the MMEA and conduct professional exchanges to improve the maritime capabilities of both countries.
“By partnering with MMEA, the USCG seeks to strengthen global maritime governance to preserve sovereignty, share information to facilitate force-multiplying partnerships, and demonstrate professional standards of behaviour to reinforce the rules of law at sea,” said Mees.
He also spoke on the most dramatic experience while commanding the vessel from Singapore to Port Klang.
“Navigating through the Strait of Singapore and the Strait of Malacca was very challenging as we encountered thousands of vessels that averaged from 800ft (243.8m) to 1,300ft (396.2m) long.
“It demonstrated how this sea-lane is the epicentre of worldwide maritime commerce,” said Mees.
Built in Mississippi and launched on Sept 29, 2006 the Bertholf is 127m long and is powered by two diesel engines and a gas turbine.
It is the first of the nine ships of its class in the USCG fleet, that was commissioned in August 2008. and can accommodate a crew of 170.
The vessel, which operates out of its home-port Alameda in California, was named to honour the USCG’s fourth commandant Commodore Ellsworth Price Bertholf (born in New York on April 7. 1866) for his exemplary duty (initially serving the US Revenue Cutter Service and then the USCG from 1887 to 1919) in preserving the agency.
The USCGC Bertholf’s primary missions include national and foreign defence operations, counter-drug operations, law enforcement, search and rescue, fisheries enforcement and international outreach.
Its port-call in the country was the second time a ship of its class had done so, with the first being the USCGC Munro last August. – airtimes.my
#AirTimes #Malaysia #USCG
