Coral Harbour Base, 30 November, 2019 – The Bahamas – In April 2019, The Bahamas Maritime Surveillance System was installed and commissioned at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Base in Inagua, and has proven to be a step in the right direction and necessary in the fight against illicit activities.
As the Force
prepares to refine its multi-layered security network, the state of the art
Kelvin Hughes long range coastal radar that was handed over to The Bahamas by
the United States Government, will only maximize the Defence Force’s
capabilities to detect, deter, and apprehend persons engaged in illicit
activities in the southern Bahamas.
Valued at over
two million dollars, this was the first of several coastal radars that will be
erected throughout strategic chokepoints in the country that is 95% water in
its geological makeup.
Since its installation,
there has been increased efficacy in maritime patrolling by Defence Force
assets as a result of targets identified by the radar. Because of the radar’s
ability to track these illicit crafts entering the RBDF’s Area of
Responsibility (AOR), vessels are now altering their tactics.
The radar’s
coverage and the support from the USCG Aerial reconnaissance, combined with
RBDF maritime patrols ensure that these illicit vessels have a lower chance of
achieving their goals. The Coastal Radar
installed at Great Inagua and the future radars that are set to be installed
throughout the RBD’F’s AOR will ensure that the RBDF more firmly grasps its
maritime domain awareness, even as tactics employed by transnational criminal
operatives change.
Since October, 2019
the RBDF has beefed up patrolling in the Southern Bahamas. This in conjunction with the coastal radar
led to the successful interdiction of two Haitian migrant vessels and one
poaching vessel in very recent times.
The Force continues to benefit from and encourage joint efforts with
interagency partners and the United States Government.
The introduction
of drones by the Ministry of National Security is being led by the RBDF and it
is expected that their presence on vessel’s platforms as well as in the
Southern Bases of the Bahamas will yield much, providing intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance data that will be a significant boost for the
country.
The Defence Force remains committed to embracing technology to enhance its operational agility and is grateful for assistance of her regional and international partners in stemming the criminal tide.
Release: RBDF
Photo Caption:Photo of HMBS LIGNUM VITAE escorting a poaching vessel and also of the Coastal Radar in Inagua.
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