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A static ship built for anti-piracy simulation exercises at the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) at Nutekpor in the South Tongu District in the Volta Region has been commissioned.
The model, dubbed “Ship-in-a-Box,” also known as Keta Lagoon, is said to be the second of its kind in the sub-region.
It is designed to enhance the training of military and civilian law enforcement personnel from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to intercept and investigate maritime crimes.
The construction of the ship was funded by the Embassy of Denmark in Accra, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The Minister of Defence, Dominic B.A. Nitiwul, who commissioned it, said the innovative ship was a significant leap in the mission to ensure the safety and security of maritime operations in the country and the sub-region.
He expressed gratitude to the Danish Government and UNODC for supporting the project, which the minister said, bore testimony to their relentless fight against maritime security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea.
“The Ghana Navy has benefitted immensely from the Danish Government maritime security programme in the Gulf of Guinea, more especially the development of the Special Boat Squadron and the acquisition of the Full Mission Simulator to build capacity for sea-going officers and ratings.”
“The threats we face today from piracy, drug trafficking, smuggling, illegal fishing and maritime terrorism demand that we equip our personnel with the best possible training and prepare them for every conceivable scenario they might encounter at sea,” Mr Nitiwul said.
He said the programme was also a symbol of commitment to excellence and dedication in protecting the country’ maritime interest, adding that it would not only serve the nation, but other allied and partner nations.
The Danish Foreign Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, also said the ship showcased the excellent security cooperation between Denmark and the Gulf of Guinea states, especially Ghana.
He said although Denmark was small in size, it was a large maritime nation which strongly supported the principle of freedom of navigation at sea.
That principle was crucial to both regional and international trade, and Denmark’s partnership with Ghana played a vital role in securing the maritime domain, Mr Rasmussen explained.
He cited activities in the Gulf of Guinea in recent times which put seafarers and ships in danger and disrupted maritime trade, with serious economic consequences for coastal states.
The Danish Foreign Minister said those challenges demanded strong coordinated efforts at global, regional and national levels.
“We need to cooperate in building capacity for maritime law enforcement agencies,” he added.
The Regional Representative of UNODC Office for West and Central Africa, Amado Philip de Andres, said the ‘Ship-in-a-Box’ would greatly improve training at a lower cost and higher level of safety.
The simulator could be used for repeated practical exercises, involving various maritime crime scenarios without incurring the significant fuel and boat maintenance cost, he explained.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Issah Yakubu, said the edifice was a bold step in realising the vision of NAVTRAC to become a world-class centre for professional maritime training.
“The nature of maritime trade makes any threat to shipping a threat to all players in the value chain, hence, dealing with maritime insecurity goes beyond just one state’s efforts,” he added.
