Belize Coast Guard Completes US-Led Small Boat Operations Training

The Belize Coast Guard has completed another round of specialized training with the United States Coast Guard, further strengthening the operational capabilities of its maritime personnel.

The two-week Small Boat Operations training concluded today at the Belize Coast Guard Headquarters. It was facilitated by a US Coast Guard Mobile Training Team from the Yorktown Training Center in Virginia. The programme combined classroom instruction with extensive exercises at sea, allowing participants to improve their knowledge, confidence and practical skills in small-boat handling and patrol operations.

The training concluded with a realistic exercise in which Coast Guard personnel were required to plan and execute patrols, transfer personnel safely between vessels and respond to simulated mechanical problems.  According to the Belize Coast Guard, the final exercise allowed participants to demonstrate the technical skills, teamwork and sound judgment developed throughout the two-week programme.  The Coast Guard says the training reflects its longstanding partnership with the United States Coast Guard and its continued commitment to capacity-building, operational readiness and professional excellence.