US naval craft Yuma docks in Tangier, a token of an ever growing US-Moroccan maritime partnership

The Military Sealift Command (MSC) Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport USNS Yuma (T-EPF 8) arrived in Tangier, Morocco, for a port visit on March 19, 2021.

Yuma is a Naval Craft sailing under the flag of the US and operating in the US Sixth Fleet to conduct interoperability training and build strategic partnerships with African partners.

“We look forward to strengthening our US-Moroccan maritime partnership,” Commodore, Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa (MSCEURAF) and Commander, Task Force 63 (CTF-63) Capt. Frank Okata, said in a press release on March 22.

“This visit demonstrates US Naval Forces Africa’s steady effort to build global maritime partnerships with African nations in order to improve maritime safety and security in the region,” Capt. Frank Okata said.

 

The Yuma visit comes on the heels of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG) participation in Lightning Handshake, a bilateral maritime exercise between the U.S. and the Royal Moroccan Navy (RMN) and Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) conducted during the first week of March.

The exercise included several operations in surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, air, and strike warfare, combined logistics support, and maritime interdiction operations.

In January, and again in March, Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) participated in exercise Atlas Handshake with the Royal Moroccan Navy.

These high-end strike Naval Surface Fire Support exercises, and aerial refueling operations demonstrate our joint capabilities, the press release stated, adding that the Yuma visit demonstrates U.S. Naval Forces Africa’s steady effort to build global maritime partnerships with African nations in order to improve maritime safety and security in the region.