Maritime forces from Gulf of Guinea nations, Europe, South America, the United States and several regional and international organizations began the multinational maritime exercise, Exercise Obangame/Saharan Express 2016, March 17.

When pirates hijacked the MT MAXIMUS in the Gulf of Guinea in mid-February, collaboration between four West African nations, with assistance from the U.S. and France, allowed the African navies to track, interdict the vessel, free 18 hostages and apprehend the pirates.

U.S. Marines and sailors and U.K. Royal Marine Commandos recently completed partner-nation training in multiple countries in Africa during Africa Partnership Station.

Military representatives from the U.S. and partner nations in the Gulf of Guinea finalized the course's content during a workshop in Cameroon.

Many U.S. Navy Sailors have come to Ghana for the first time to support Exercise Obangame Express 2015, but for some it was also an opportunity to return to their birth place.

The U.S. Navy’s joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead delivered wheelchairs and medical supplies to Ghanaian non-governmental organizations March 26, 2015.

Capt. James Regan, ship’s master of the Military Sealift Command’s joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1), right, signs the official guest registry of Commodore Steve Darbo of Ghanaian navy March 26, 2015. Spearhead is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of the international collaborative capacity-building program Africa Partnership Station. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kenan O’Connor/Released)

Members of Project Handclasp and service members from the U.S. and Ghanaian military pose for a photo in front of Project Handclasp supplies, delivered from the Military Sealift Command’s joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) March 26, 2015. Spearhead is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of the international collaborative capacity-building program Africa Partnership Station. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kenan O’Connor/Released)

Maritime forces from Gulf of Guinea nations, Europe, South America, and the United States and several regional and international organizations concluded the multinational maritime exercise, Obangame Express 2015, March 27.

On December 31, 1943, Marine Iron & Ship Builders of Duluth, Minn. launched the Sweetbrier, a 180-foot Balsam Class U.S. Coast Guard buoy tender. Nearly 72 years later, a multinational group of navies practiced visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations on board the Sweetbrier, known since 2001 as the Ghana Naval Ship (GNS) Bonsu.

TEMA, Ghana (March 19, 2015) – GNS Bonsu, a former U.S. Coast Guard ship sold to the Ghana navy in 2001, is moored at the port of Tema, Ghana, March 19, 2015. Bonsu is currently docked as it awaits repairs, and is scheduled to participate in work-up trials later this summer. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Luis R. Chavez Jr/Released)

Ivory Coast boarding team members establish perimeter security aboard the German navy vessel FGS Brandenburg (F215) March 21, 2015 during an illegal fishing training scenario as part of Obangame Express 2015. Obangame Express is a U.S. Africa Command-sponsored multinational maritime exercise designed to increase maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea. (U.S. Army photo by Specialist Raul Pacheco/Released)

Boarding teams from five Gulf of Guinea countries are using the German navy frigate FGS Brandenburg (F215) to enhance their abilities to complete visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations during Exercise Obangame Express 2015, from March 19 to 27, 2015. After boarding the ship, the boarding teams are confronted with situations that require them to detain and question suspects, clear rooms and respond to medical emergencies in order to effectively demonstrate their capabilities to perform in potentially hostile shipboard environments.

U.S. Naval course brings 33 naval leaders from Africa and Europe to discuss maritime issues of mutual concern in effort to improve war-fighting capability.

NAPLES, Italy (March. 2, 2015) Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, Vice Adm. James Foggo, III, welcomes Gabon navy Chief Rear Adm. Yves Keba Malekou as he arrives for the 2015 Combined Force Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) Flag Course Africa at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, March 2, 2015. During this weeklong CFMCC course, facilitated by the U.S. Naval War College, 33 senior naval leaders from maritime countries in Europe and Africa will participate in seminars and discussions focusing on the effective employment of naval forces in a joint, coalition or interagency environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel P. Schumacher/Released)