The Mauritian Capital of Port St. Louis welcomed the USS Samuel B. Roberts this week for an eight-day stay that will see a cooperative training effort between the U.S. Navy and the Mauritian Coast Guard. The visit is seen as a goodwill gesture between the two countries that will also provide a means for helping to secure Mauritian coastal waters. The visit is part of the Africa Partnership Station program.
While in port, the ship's crew will conduct training classes involving search and rescue operations, at sea fire fighting, electrical maintenance, and on-board damage control. The training is designed to help improve on-board operations throughout the Coast Guard's fleet. The visit will also include a special public service project with a children's school and a soccer game with the Mauritian Coast Guard. According to the commander of the USS Samuel B. Roberts, his crew has been looking forward to the visit.
"Sammy B. is really excited to arrive in Mauritius for classroom training with the coast guard and police here," said Commander Angel Cruz. "The training will culminate with an underway exercise where we'll put all our knowledge into practice. This is our primary mission."
Although the operation is not normally associated with Mauritius' travel industry, it is in a roundabout way. In other words, holidays to Mauritius are made safer and much more enjoyable when coastal waters are secured. By helping to train the Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy is adding to the overall safety of the region and making holiday travel in the area more inviting. The fact that these types of visits are happening all over the region only makes the Indian Ocean more secure.
As for the tourists themselves, most will enjoy the sun and surf of luxury resorts without ever knowing about the maritime operations. They'll be enjoying deep-sea fishing, diving, snorkelling, water skiing, windsurfing, and all of the other water sports the island nation is famous for. They will be having morning coffee overlooking a peaceful, turquoise-blue lagoon, then spending long hours strolling through lush, tropical gardens.
During the afternoon hours a round of golf at one of Mauritius' championship-level courses may be in order. History and culture lovers may visit one of the island's historic sugar plantations or visit Port St. Louis to see some of the historical buildings. They may take the kids on a trek through the foothills of the Mauritian mountains or rent some bicycles for a leisurely ride along the coast. When evening comes, a beautiful sunset and ocean side dining awaits.
Since tourism is so vital to the Mauritian economy, the training provided by the U.S. Navy can only be seen as a benefit. The more secure the country's Coast Guard can keep the waters around the island nation the better things will be for visitors-regardless of where they hail from.
Mauritius Holidays Direct, the specialist holiday company based in the UK, specializes in finding the best holidays to Mauritius for their customers.
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