Commander Combined Task Force 151 (CCTF151) Commodore (Cdre) Asif Hameed Siddique visited United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 07th to 12th April for a Key Leadership Engagement (KLE).
During his visit CCTF-151 met with Colonel Staff Abdullah Sultan AL Khozaimi Deputy Director of Naval Operations and Training based at the UAE Armed Force Head Quarters in Dubai, Commander (Cdr) Frank Fahnrich of the Federal German Ship (FGS) BAYREN of Combined Task force 465 (CTF465) European Naval Forces, Mr Edward Hobart, Her Majesty’s Consul General to Dubai and then attended the Maritime Information Exchange Vessel Operators Meeting (MIEVOM).
Combined Task Force 151 (CTF151) exists in order to deter and disrupt piracy, protect maritime vessels and secure freedom of navigation for the benefit of all. In conjunction with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR), CTF 151 helps to patrol the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) and recommends best practice methods for the avoidance of piracy to merchant shipping.
During the KLE, Cdre Siddique discussed the importance of ongoing Counter Piracy operations by Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in support of the Maritime Community and World Trade. He also highlighted the achievements made by counter-piracy forces in furthering the confidence of merchant ships throughout the region. Cdre Siddique then reiterated the need to maintain the support to the future of counter-piracy missions by all CMF EUNAVFOR and NATO members. Colonel Staff Khozaimi stated “The UAE confirm their support to act against counter-piracy and to maintain the flow of legitimate trade throughout the region”
During his visit to FGS BAYERN, Cdre Siddique met with Cdr Frank Fahnrich, where they discussed the future of counter-piracy operations across the region and the mutual interests and mission aims.
At MIEVOM, CCTF-151 met with representatives of the Maritime Business Community. Moreover he addressed the maritime security community by saying “There was a continued need for ongoing piracy assessment and to meet the challenges faced by planning implementers” He went onto say that there was a needed for adherence to Best Management Practices 4 in High Risk Areas to help counter any future Counter-Piracy approaches.
Finally, CCTF-met with Her Majesty’s Counsel General, Mr Edward Hobart, and discussed the current security scenario in the region, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organisation activities and the existing and future maritime threats.
Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) 