Navy Meteorology and Oceanography and Fleet Survey Team - Chart Economic Growth for Sao Tome and Principe

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Goyak | Capt. John Nowell, commander Africa Partnership Station signs a chart of the port of Baía de Ana Chaves, Democratic Republic of São Tome and Príncipe. The chart was prepared by Navy Meteorology and Oceanography Command and Fleet Survey Team and will replace charts that were produced in 1964. Part of the U.S. Navy's Global Fleet Station, APS provides a platform with the capacity and persistent presence to support sustained, focused training and collaboration on a regional scale to maritime partners in west and central Africa. In addition to maritime training, APS will perform more than 20 humanitarian projects in the region.  

03.14.2008

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Goyak 

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet

By Petty Officer 1st Class Brian A. Goyak
Africa Partnership Station Public Affairs

SAO TOME, Sao Tome and Principe – Capt. John Nowell, commander Africa Partnership Station, presented a chart of the port of Baía de Ana Chaves, Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Príncipe to Lt. Col. Idalecio Pachirre, Armed Forces commander and Lt. Col. Justino Lima, STP Coast Guard commander, Mar. 14.

The chart was compiled from information gathered by Navy Meteorology and Oceanography Command and Fleet Survey Team with the cooperation of Portugal Naval Officer LT Alexandre Carvalho.

Carvalho acted as the Portuguese navy hydrographic liaison for the initial two weeks of the survey. This encompassed the vessel setup and calibration phase of the survey. He provided integral interpreter services, previous Portuguese survey data and charts of the area, and assisted in the vessel setup.

The team began conducting surveys of the port, Sep. 21, 2007 and completed work, Nov. 19, 2007. Utilizing side scan sonar, sound velocity, photographs of navigation aids, and other techniques, the team gathered the necessary information to complete the chart.

The current U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency charts being used by STP are based on STP and Angola surveys from 1964. Since the ocean floor changes over time, the accuracy of those charts may not be reliable. The new and updated chart will be used by US Navy ships to legally and safely enter the port.

"The idea is to share the information with the Portuguese, who are the charting authority for STP," said Lt Catherine Williams, NMOC representative to APS. "The Portuguese will also use these charts to enter the port."

The underlying motivation for producing these updated charts is for STP to publish them so that the merchant community can start to come to STP and initiate trade. Merchant ships will most often not enter a port, which they do not have accurate charts for.

"If you're an island nation like STP, you will have trouble getting foreign trade and investment going which hinders economic growth," added Williams.

On the surface, this is helpful for the Coast Guard and military of STP, but more importantly, this is essential for the economic well being of Sao Tome and Principe.

Part of the U.S. Navy's Global Fleet Station, APS provides a platform with the capacity and persistent presence to support sustained, focused training and collaboration on a regional scale to maritime partners in west and central Africa. Commander Task Force 365 and training teams from various U.S. and European military commands, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations are embarked on board Fort McHenry to enhance cooperative partnerships.

• Date Taken: 03.14.2008
• Date Posted: 03.19.2008 11:55
• Story ID: 17538