WALVIS BAY – The Commander of the Namibian Navy, Rear Admiral Peter Vilho, says the Namibian Navy has achieved scope, however, it lacks the necessary quantity and equality in order to improve on effectiveness, efficiency and flexibility.
He says efficiency can be achieved by acquiring better equipment and achieving operational synergies with other maritime stakeholders.
He was addressing dignitaries and members of the Namibian Navy during the Navy’s 10 year anniversary that was celebrated last week Friday at Walvis Bay.
Outlining the navy’s achievements and challenges, he said the force owes its existence to the Constitution, the white paper on Defence and to the Defence Act.
“Our defence policy identifies the maintenance of the ability to defend and protect our country, the promotion of a safe and secure environment in Namibia and the promotion of regional and sub-regional peace and stability. We have so far achieved all these objectives,” Vilho explained.
He, however, said for a developing country like Namibia, the only way to achieve effectiveness and efficiency is to build relations for each strategic objective.
“For the defence of our country we need to build relations with the defence and air force. We want the air force to provide us with wings in the sky and the army with boots on the ground. Maritime defence is a joint responsibility involving the deployment of land sea surface and air capabilities,” he stated.
He said for a safe and secure environment, the navy needs to build relations with the Namibian Police, Directorate of Maritime Affairs, the Ministry of Fisheries, Namibia Ports Authority, Customs and Excise, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the Ministry of Mines and Energy and various other stakeholders.
“Involving all these stakeholders can only be beneficial for the protection of our marine resources while also providing the necessary security for the protection of territorial water and sea-lines of communication. Such collaboration can be further enhanced through the establishment of a joint officer protection command, a multi-taskforce that will utilise assets assigned from various maritime stakeholder to conduct civil maritime operations,” said the navy commander.
Vilho also highlighted the relationships among naval officers as another challenge, saying their next challenge is to build relationships among themselves.
“We must set up a proper and functioning administrative system as we have to lead and motivate our subordinates so that each one of us take control of our careers,” Vilho told the tenth anniversary event.
Congratulating the navy on their 10 year existence, the Minister of Defence, Nahas Angula, said the navy should always be responsive to the huge responsibility that rest on its shoulders.
However, he said it is important to remind Namibians of the potential defence challenges the navy and the Namibian Defence Force in general could be faced with within the maritime domain.
“Namibian maritime resources are huge and varied. They include the country’s marine diamonds, fish, oil and gas exploration as well as our long coastline. In other words, the navy must transform itself from a ‘green navy into a fully-fledge Blue navy,” he stated.
The Namibian Navy was founded after an agreement was signed between Namibia and Brazil in 1994.
Its fleet consists of the naval ships the Elephant, and the Brendan Simbwaye, harbour patrol boats;Terrace Bay and Mowe Bay; navy patrol vessels, Oryx and several harbour and riverine boats.
Its establishments include the Naval Training School at Rooikop, Walvis Bay, Naval Calling Station, Lüderitz, the Naval Base, PN Sacharia and the old naval base.