U.S. Navy and Mexican Sailors conducted a maritime interdiction operation (MIO) during exercise Bold Alligator 2014 (BA 14), an amphibious exercise consisting of 19 coalition partners performing crisis response operations, Oct. 31.
Mexican sailors from the Armada Republic of Mexico (ARM) Baja California (PO-162); a patrol vessel that normally conducts drug enforcement countermeasures, MIO and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations in and around the coast of Mexico; boarded U.S. training vessel USNS Apache (T-ATF 172).
MIO provides the capability to deter activities that impede freedom of the seas to include piracy and the illegal transport of people and goods. Methods of deterrence include distraction, delay and detainment. MIO also provides aide to legitimate mariners in distress.
Cmdr. Greg Sipple, officer in charge of Commander Strike Group 4 for VBSS and MIO operations, said:
The goal is to come on board safely, check the ship’s documentation and check the health and well being of the crew and vessel.
Any training such as this is important for making sure that a team is prepared to do a mission successfully.
The crew aboard Apache consisted of U.S. civilian and U.S. Navy personnel who simulated being ‘dead in the water’ due to an engine malfunction.
Bold Alligator is an exercise to improve the Navy-Marine Corps amphibious core competencies along with Coalition, NATO and allied nations. BA 14 hosts 19 countries, 17 vessels and more than 8,000 Sailors and Marines.
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Press release, Image: US Navy