French Naval Ship docks at Tema Port

A French Navy Ship, “Commandant L’Herminier,” on Monday docked at the Tema Port, on a four-day official visit to Ghana.

The ship which docked at the shores of Ghana at about 1050 hours has a staff of nine officers, 51 petty officers, and 40 boatmen and sailors, under the command of Lieutenant Gwenegan Le Bourhis.

This is the second time the ship has docked at the Tema Port, with its maiden visit in 2006.

Lt Le Bourhis told media personnel on board the ship that the 30-year-old Naval vessel whose original task was anti-submarine warfare in coastal waters, would partner the Ghana Navy to engage in training activities, including a possible exercise at sea.

He added that the training would enable officers from the two countries to find common procedures in maintaining order in the Gulf of Guinea.

This he said would better equip officers to fight illegal fishing activities, piracy, drug trafficking and smuggling.

The interaction would also serve as a platform for cultural exchange.

Lt Le Bourhis said under the Corymbe Mission of the French Navy, there is a permanent presence of a naval force on the Gulf of Guinea, to detect and prevent crisis.

He indicated that the Mission enables the personnel to intervene to protect French nationals, living and working in the coastal part of Africa.

Whilst in Ghana, the officers would renovate an Orphanage at Dodowa, as part of their co-operation with the civil society.**