A warm welcome was extended to the Untied States Navy vessel HSV-2 SWIFT yesterday in Santo Domingo as the ship arrived on an operational visit. 

There to welcome and representing the Dominican Republic was Dominican Vice Admiral Julio C. Ventura Bayonet, also Ramon Aquino Garcia the Dominican Armed Forces Minister and Andrew Oltyan who is the Trade Attaché at the United States Embassy in the Dominican Republic.  

The ship will be moored at Puerto Don Diego. Also taking part in the ceremony was the Dominican Navy Chief Vice Admiral Ivan A Pena Castillo, Major General Antonio V Jaquez and others. 

This is all part of a pilot aid program by US Southern Command called “Global Fleet Station 2007.” The ship has been doing the rounds and started a tour of Central America and the Caribbean at the beginning of 2007, its mission is to strengthen regional maritime security and provide training sessions and exercises in port security maneuverability of small vessels and officers’ leaderships.