An Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules aircrew and Fijian navy Sub-Lt. Opeti Enesi, a Fijian shipriider, return from a patrol over the Fijian islands, Dec. 8, 2018. The Hercules was supporting a Fijian navy patrol boat during a law enforcement operation. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew West.

Fijian shiprider joins Coast Guard aircrew on patrol

Almost a month after a bilateral shiprider agreement was signed by Michael Goldman, Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Suva, and Fiji’s Minister of Defense Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, a Fijian navy shiprider flew with a Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules aircrew over the Fijian Islands, Dec. 8, 2018.

The agreement, signed Nov. 12, 2018, allows Fijian officials to board United States’ assets and conduct law enforcement from them in Fiji’s territorial waters, and allows both nations to pursue common causes such as fisheries protection.