Turkish Flagship Supports Seychelles Orphanage
VICTORIA, Seychelles – Turkish warship TCG Gokceada, flagship to Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151), recently visited Victoria, Seychelles. Whilst in port, the ship took the opportunity to host 12 boys and three Foyer De Nazareth Orphanage staff. The boys were given a full tour of the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate, including the bridge, where they got to sit in the captain’s chair. They were told about life at sea and received ship’s souvenirs. Ramus Legaie, an 8-year-old from the orphanage said, “The ship is so big! I got to sit in the Captain’s chair. Today has been a great experience for me. Thank you Gokceada!” Lt Oguz Bastemur, the ship’s Operations Officer, and Lt Okan Sesiguzel, the Weapon Electronics Officer were the ship’s tour guides for the boys’ visit. Bastemur said “It was great to be able show the boys from Foyer De Nazareth around TCG Gokceada. Whenever TCG…
Counter-Piracy Flagship Strengthens Relations In Somali Basin
VICTORIA, Seychelles – Turkish warship TCG Gokceada, flagship to the Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) conducting counter-piracy operations in the Somali Basin, recently arrived in Victoria, Seychelles for a brief port visit. While in port, Rear Admiral Sinan Ertugrul, Commander, CTF-151, took the opportunity to strengthen links with the archipelago nation. At a meeting between Ertugrul and Chief of Defence Staff of the Seychelles, Brigadier Leopold Payet, both men agreed to strengthen ties and mutual cooperation in dealing with piracy. The Somali Basin is a hotspot for piracy, which affects global trade, as well as regional maritime industries. Ertugrul reaffirmed his commitment to the Seychelles during the hour-long meeting stating, “It is my intention to robustly disrupt and deter piracy within the Somali Basin. Such acts not only affect large merchant shipping industries, but also important local and regional maritime activities, such as fishing. I am committed to working ever-closer…
Task Force Flagship Disrupts Suspected Piracy Activity
SOMALI BASIN – Just before midday on Sept. 26, Turkish frigate TCG Gokceada, flagship to the multi-national Combined Task Force 151, successfully disrupted a group suspected of planning an act of piracy. The ship’s helicopter was scanning the southern Somali coast for pirate activity when a suspicious vessel was seen not far from the shore and near a suspected pirate camp, some 100 miles south of the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Initial reports from the helicopter crew stated seeing the kind of equipment commonly used by pirates on the vessel. TCG Gokceada’s boarding team was quickly dispatched and boarded the suspicious vessel. The seven-man boarding team found 21 drums of fuel, enough to sustain a small vessel at sea for many days, and a long ladder with hooks (the kind typically used by pirates to board large cargo vessels). Approval was given for the boarding team to transfer the three personnel…
Combined Task Force 150 Conducts Focused Maritime Security Operations
MANAMA, Bahrain – Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) participated in Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the North Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman from 14 – 17 Sept. 2010. This operation concentrated forces in key areas where illegal activities are most likely to occur on a frequent basis. MSO are conducted under international maritime conventions to deter and disrupt terrorism and other illicit activities in the maritime environment, thereby helping to ensure security, safety and freedom of movement for commercial shipping in international waters. Coalition warships and aircraft from Australia, Pakistan, and the U.S. participated in the operation, together with support from the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), which provided surface and air assets. Rear Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbassi, SI(M), Commander CTF-150, emphasised building trust and cooperation with lawful maritime operators. Particular attention was also paid to strengthening cooperation with regional partners and to gaining an understanding of the local…
Thailand Joins CMF Counter-Piracy Mission
MANAMA, BAHRAIN – Eight officers from the Royal Thai Navy have arrived at Combined Maritime Forces headquarters, Bahrain, in preparation for the historic deployment of two Thai vessels to the Gulf of Aden. The offshore patrol vessel, HTMS Pattani, and the support ship, HTMS Similan, will conduct counter-piracy operations with Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151), currently commanded by Rear Admiral Sinan Ertugrul of the Turkish Navy. The 98-day deployment involves a total of 351 Thai personnel, led by Rear Admiral Chaiyot Sundaranaga. Vice Adm. Mark Fox, Commander CMF, said, “We are delighted that Thailand has joined CMF. Our strength derives from the fact that, as a coalition of the willing, we can achieve more by working together than any single nation or navy could do alone.” CTF-151’s mission is to deter, disrupt and suppress piracy, protecting maritime vessels of any nationality and securing freedom of navigation in the Gulf of…
CMF Sailors Volunteer at Boys’ Orphanage
Sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) and Sailors assigned to “Swamp Foxes” of HSL 44 (Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light) took time to volunteer at Foyer De Nazerath Boys Orphanage during a recent port visit to Victoria, Seychelles. In total, 12 Sailors participated in the community relations project (COMREL) playing basketball and soccer with 12 orphan boys, ranging from ages 6 to 15. “I love giving back to the community, especially overseas” said Aviation Warfare Rescuer 2nd Class (AW) Ryan Quinn. “The highlight of the day was definitely seeing how playing a simple game of basketball lit up the boys’ faces.” Quinn, along with some other HSL 44 Sailors, gave the boys U.S. military patches as souvenirs. Winston S. Churchill baseball caps were also handed out to the boys, in addition to more than 100 books. Yeoman 2nd Class Casey Patterson, currently an Individual Augmentee assigned…
16th SHADE Meets to discuss Counter-Piracy
On September 21st National representatives from 32 countries met in Bahrain along with International Law Enforcement Representatives, Shipping Industry representatives and representatives of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), European Union Naval Forces (EUNAVFOR) Maritime Security Council, Horn of Africa (MSC HOA) and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) to discuss the counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin. The SHADE meeting was established to provide a forum in which the various military elements engaged in counter-piracy operations in the region, have a means to discuss their successes and challenges in the dynamic area of operations. The forum is also a means of offering new practices and establishing co-ordination on activities. SHADE also provides interaction with representatives of the shipping industry which raises the concerns of the merchant traffic that transit through the region and allows military commanders to understand the concerns and limitations of the companies who derive…
Maritime Raid Force Recaptures Ship From Pirates
CMF forces seize control of M/V Magellan Star from pirates.
Australian Frigate HMAS Melbourne Joins CMF
MANAMA, Bahrain – The Australian frigate HMAS Melbourne arrived this week to participate in counter-piracy and maritime security operations with the 25-nation Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). The Adelaide class guided missile frigate left her home port of Sydney, Australia, in mid-August and will relieve Anzac class frigate HMAS Parramatta, which has been in the region since March. CMF units are committed to working together in order to promote security and prosperity across some 2.5 million square miles of international waters in the Middle East, which encompass some of the world’s most important shipping lanes. Its main focus areas are defeating terrorism, preventing piracy, reducing illegal activities, and promoting a safe maritime environment. HMAS Melbourne has a ship’s company of 238 men and women. Additionally, 13 Australian service personnel are assigned to CMF Headquarters, Manama, Bahrain, fulfilling a diverse range of staff roles ranging from watchkeepers to legal advisors. Captain John…
Turkey Assumes Command of CTF-151
Rear Admiral Sinan Ertugrul of the turkish Navy assumes command of CTF-151.