Accra, Aug 14, GNA - High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2), a humanitarian vessel, has arrived in Ghana to begin a port visit in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS) West 2012.

The vessel, which arrived on August 12th this month, would engage in a variety of events to support APS goals with a focus on building cooperative partnerships with regional maritime services to achieve common international goals, primarily stability and security.

This was contained in a release issued by the Press Attaché of the American Embassy, Ghana, copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday.

A team of doctors and nurses on the vessel would conduct the Medical Civic Action Programme (MEDCAP) during a three-day outreach event at Supomu Dunkwa Health Centre.

The event, which began on Tuesday, August 14, would provide health care services to the public, the medical team would work with health professionals from Ghana to share information and best practices.

The vessel would off-load various humanitarian supplies as part of Project Handclasp, which is a US Navy initiative that accepts, and transports educational, humanitarian, and goodwill material overseas by ship on a space available basis.

'Subject-matter expert exchanges will be conducted by US Marines from members of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Africa (SPMAGTF) 12-2 Security Cooperation Team 6, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) instructors. Members of the Nigerian navy would conduct a leadership course for non-commissioned officers on the vessel as well,' the release added.

HSV-2 Swift is an Australian built, privately-owned, privately-operated vessel that has been outfitted for the US Navy.

Swift is crewed by civilian mariners, who operate, navigate, and engineer the ship, and a military detachment which oversees theatre security cooperation efforts.

GNA