By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Rachael Leslie, High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) Public Affairs
PUERTO QUETZAL, Guatemala (NNS) -- High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV) 2 delivered much-needed supplies to the Guatemala defense forces for local relief organizations in and around Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, July 22.
Swift delivered the supplies as part of the Navy's Project Handclasp program, designed to transport educational, humanitarian and goodwill material on a space-available basis aboard U.S. Navy ships for distribution to foreign nation recipients.
"Project Handclasp is a coordinated effort between the Navy and individual donors in the United States to bring supplies and donated items to places in need," said Capt. Kurt Hedberg, mission commander, Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2010.
The Swift crew loaded nine pallets of school kits, health kits, sunflower seeds, honey-roasted nuts, sanitary products and 33 boxes from Kids Against Hunger.
"It's nice knowing that in addition to our military subject matter exchanges, we can also bring these types of humanitarian goods to the people who need them most," said Hedberg. "SPS is about information sharing and relationship building, and our Project Handclasp deliveries go a long way toward showing these nations we're dedicated, and we care about the people who live there.
Swift is currently deployed in Support of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2010, an annual deployment of various specialty platforms to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) in the Caribbean and Central America. The mission's primary goal is information sharing with navies, coast guards, and civilian services throughout the region.
At 321 feet, Swift is faster than most ships, with a top speed of almost 50 knots. The catamaran hulls draw only about 11 feet of water, making the ship ideal for missions in shallow coastal waters.
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