HIGH SPEED VESSEL 2 SWIFT, At Sea — Navy Mineman 2nd Class Matthew Rishovd (left), explains the components of an oceanographic surface drifter buoy to Navy Mineman 1st Class April Morehouse Jan.

View at highest resolution (2100 by 524 pixels)

HIGH SPEED VESSEL 2 SWIFT, At Sea — Navy Mineman 2nd Class Matthew Rishovd (left), explains the components of an oceanographic surface drifter buoy to Navy Mineman 1st Class April Morehouse Jan. 19 in preparation for a drifter deployment from High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift. Drifting buoys move with ocean currents and collect data such as sea surface temperature. The interagency Africa Partnership Station (APS) supports research efforts of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). APS and NOAA will partner together for a variety of activities, ranging from meteorological buoy repair to fisheries observer training. APS is a multi-national effort to address the common threats of illegal fishing, smuggling, and human trafficking to West and Central Africa. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Lt. Cmdr. Chuck Bell)