Twelve days of operations in two municipalities
By Agência Marinha de Notícias – Belém, PA
From September 4 to 15, the Brazilian Navy (MB) carried out Operation “PATNAV SOURE”, intensifying inspections to combat illegal fishing, environmental crimes and other illicit activities in the region at the mouth of the Pará River, comprising the municipalities of Soure and Vigia de Nazaré. During the operation, Naval Patrol (PatNav) actions resulted in 14 vessels being boarded, of which 9 were notified and 7 seized.
Also noteworthy was the work of the Visit and Inspection Group (GVI) of the Patrol Vessel (NPa) “Guarujá” in raising awareness among the fishing community about compliance with the Waterway Traffic Safety Law, with a view to safe navigation, as well as the important deterrent action in the region with the presence of an MB ship.
As part of Operation “PATNAV SOURE”, the NPa “Guarujá” carried out live-fire exercises with various weapons, such as a 20 mm machine gun and a 7.62 mm rifle, increasing the crew’s training and ensuring that the ship is fully capable of carrying out actions to defend the territory and guarantee the sovereignty of the Brazilian state.
The constant presence of naval assets in the area is essential for better security conditions in the Northern Arc. “The Brazilian Navy has been allocating its operational resources to carry out operations such as ‘PATNAV SOURE’, which aims to ensure compliance with laws and regulations in Brazilian Jurisdictional Waters. The action also contributes to maintaining and increasing the safety of waterway traffic in the area of jurisdiction of the 4th Naval District,” says Captain Ondiara Barbosa, Commander of the Northern Naval Patrol Group.
Guarujá” Patrol Ship
Incorporated into the Brazilian Navy on November 30, 1999, the Patrol Ship “Guarujá” is subordinate to the Command of the 4th Naval District and is part of the Northern Naval Patrol Group. With a length of 46.5m, a breadth of 7.5m and a draft of 2.3m (distance between the surface of the water and the keel, the lowest point of the ship), it is equipped with a 40mm cannon and two 20mm machine guns. Its crew is made up of 28 soldiers.
The ship operates on the rivers of the Amazon and the coasts of Pará, Maranhão, Piauí and Amapá, operating from the Val de Cães Naval Base in Belém (PA), with autonomy to sail for two weeks, without the need for refueling stops.
Source: Agência Marinha de Notícias