Captain Hwang Sun-Woo (left) was welcomed onboard the Chinese frigate Lin Yi by Senior Captain Wang Peiji (right)
Captain Hwang Sun-Woo (left) was welcomed onboard the Chinese frigate Lin Yi by Senior Captain Wang Peiji (right)

Officers from Republic of Korea Ship Dae Jo Yeong, currently assigned to the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) counter-piracy task force, CTF-151, took the opportunity to visit Chinese warship PLA(N) Lin Yi when the two ships were alongside in Salalah recently.

The visit, which took place on 6 January 2015 in the Omani port of Salalah, provided a chance to exchange information and build stronger links between the CMF and Chinese counter-piracy task forces operating in the Gulf of Aden and around the Horn of Africa.

The visit provided an opportunity for the Chinese Officers and Korean Officers to discuss counter-piracy techniques
The visit provided an opportunity for the Chinese Officers and Korean Officers to discuss counter-piracy techniques

The Commanding Officer of the Korean ship Captain Hwang Sun-Woo and several officers visited the Chinese frigate, where they were hosted by the Deputy Commander of the Chinese counter-piracy task force, ETG-547, Senior Captain Wang Peiji and Commanding Officer of the PLA(N) Lin Yi, Captain Kao Ke. The visit, which opened with the traditional serving of Chinese tea, included a wide-ranging discussion on counter-piracy techniques and the most effective means of sharing information to better counter pirates and those using the high seas for illegal purposes. After the discussions ended, Captain Kao Ke provided a personal tour of the Chinese ship and took a group photo to commemorate the event.

Captain Sun-Woo said:

“It was a great opportunity to build up trust and mutual cooperation with others conducting counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden. I hope to continuously exchange information to successfully carry out CMF’s counter-piracy operations.”

Senior Captain Wang Peiji said:

“The People’s Liberation Army (Navy) task force ETG-547 is interested in building up mutual cooperation with CMF’s Task Forces.”

A group photo of the Chinese and Korean Officers
A group photo of the Chinese and Korean Officers

Rear Admiral Pakorn Wanich, Commander of CTF-151, said:

“I firmly believe that the international community must work together in response to piracy threats and the inherent risk piracy poses to commercial shipping. The cooperation amongst naval assets is a key element of that counter-piracy effort and an important building block to strengthen working relations. Trust and coordination are the basics to achieve our common goals.”

CTF-151 works with international organisations such as NATO and the European Union, as well as ships deployed independently from countries such as China, to counter-piracy on the high seas.