Port Blair, March 8: The Presence of United States Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf in Andaman is a Signal to the world of Growing Cooperation between the two countries United States and India, said Captain William Billy Mees during an interaction with the media today at Hotel Sinclairs Bay View.
The United States Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf entered Port Blair harbour on 7th March 2024, after covering more than 16,000 Kms, for a joint exercise with Indian Coast Guard.
This is the first time that a United States Coast Guard Cutter has been deployed in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands complementing previous cutter visits to Chennai and other recent USCG engagements in India.
Captain William and Commanding Officer of USCG Cutter Bertholf Commander Leah Cole expressed that they look forward to the operational coordination through this engagement while promoting a free, open connected, prosperous, secure and resilient maritime domain.
“Consistent collaboration and trusted partnership are key to USCG’s commitment to maritime security, governance and capacity. Through these cooperative activities, we learn and reinforce best practices, while improving operational coordination and deepening the USCG-ICG relationship as model of coast guard engagement”, said Captain William.
“We look forward to the opportunity to increase or operational coordination through this engagement while promoting a free, open, connected, prosperous, secure and resilient maritime domain”, added Commander Leah Cole.
During its stay in the Andaman, USCG Cutter Bertholf will be engaged in a joint exercise in which ICG Helicopter will make a landing on Bertholf apart from a joint exercise on pollution response, rescue and assistance mission.