US donates patrol vessel to enhance BDF maritime security

The United States on Wednesday marked the official handover of a US$750K 35-foot patrol vessel to the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) during a ceremony held at the Barbados Coast Guard Station, Pelican.

The patrol vessel will strengthen the BDF’s maritime domain awareness and rapid response capabilities, while supporting joint maritime security operations, combined exercises, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions.

This donation is the first of three vessel donations and forms part of ongoing US support to the Barbados Defence Force through equipment provision, training, and combined exercises aimed at strengthening operational capability and interoperability.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Barbados, Karin Sullivan, highlighted the longstanding cooperation between the two nations, rooted in shared democratic values and mutual respect. She emphasised that continued collaboration enhances collective capacity to address transnational crime, natural disasters, and other regional security challenges.

Brigadier Carlos Lovell, BDF Chief of Staff, applauded the efforts, noting “donations such as these help to strengthen Barbados’ crime fighting capability and reaffirm the United States as an effective and reliable partner”.

(PR)