Georgian coast guard boat basin in Batumi. U.S. embassy photo

A new boat basin for the Georgian coast guard, built with USD 14 million funding from the United States, was opened in Batumi on September 3.

The new basin has the capacity to provide docking space for up to 15 vessels at one time.

“The new boat basin will substantially improve the Georgian Coast Guard’s ability to more quickly respond to, and interdict maritime threats in its coastal waters. The boat basin will also allow the Georgian Coast Guard to better maintain its vessels and infrastructure.  In addition, the boat basin’s modern capabilities make it a reliable port for neighboring partner country vessels to call on, stop, dock and conduct visits to the Georgian Coast Guard,” the U.S. embassy in Tbilisi said.

Maj. Gen. John Horner, the Deputy Director of the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA); U.S.  charge d’affaires Nicholas Berliner, as well as PM Irakli Garibashvili; Interior Minister Giorgi Mgebrishvili; head of the State Security Service Vakhtang Gomelauri, and other Georgian officials were present at the opening ceremony in Batumi. The officials also sailed on a P-103 patrol boat, donated to Georgia and refurbished jointly by the U.S. and Georgia.

PM Garibashvili thanked the United States, “Georgia’s major strategic partner and friend”, for funding construction of the new boat basin and said that the government will continue development of the coast guard.

“The United States is helping us with training of personnel, infrastructure development, equipment, improvement of communications [systems] and modernization of vessels,” the Georgian PM said.

U.S.-funded maritime fusion center in Supsa and vessel repair facility in Poti were opened in 2014 and 2013, respectively.

“The construction of the Batumi Boat Basin highlights the fruitful security cooperation that the United States and Georgia enjoy.  By pursuing vessel modernization and improving port infrastructure, the United States and Georgia are jointly increasing maritime security in the Black Sea region,” the U.S. embassy said.