 The nations of Europe, Africa and the U.S. gathered in Naples, Italy to discuss Saharan Express 2014, a maritime exercise designed to increase maritime security operations and improve counter-piracy capabilities in the African region. This event specifically is our main planning event, so this gives us the opportunity to sit down and hash out some of the more detailed events and scenarios and planning procedures really that need to go into the actual exercise. This planning phase is the second of three phases scheduled to take place before Saharan Express 14 kicks off. The exercise is slated to take place in March of 2014 and it's designed primarily to work on the interoperability of all the West and Northwest African countries. Specifically we're looking for them to work on their ability to communicate from one maritime operations center to the other. Saharan Express 14 is one of four African regional express series meant to strengthen maritime safety insecurity in Africa through information sharing and practical application of tactics and techniques. Seaman Mandy Washington, Naples, Italy.