CTF 150 Conducts Successful Maritime Security Operations Evolution
Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 conducted a Maritime Security Operations (MSO) evolution in the Gulf of Aden and Bab Al Mandab sea areas from the 25th – 30th June. This operation was a key achievement for the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) regional engagement in the CTF 150 area of operation and building of maritime Pattern of Life (POL). Coalition warships from the United Kingdom and United States along with German Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) participated in the operation. Besides regional engagement, particular attention was paid to the collection of maritime pattern of life data, building cooperation with Yemeni fisherman and utilizing the knowledge of Yemen Naval personnel about local issues and maritime environment. The operation also included interaction with the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) warships Al Riyadh and Makkah. MSO are conducted to support the basic themes of anti-terrorism, violent extremism, narcotic smuggling, human smuggling and or…
Commanders of Counter Piracy Tasks Forces 151 & 508 Meet to Discuss Current and Future Operations
MANAMA, Bahrain – Rear Admiral Beom Rim Lee, Commander, Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, met today with Commodore Michiel B. Hijmans, head of Combined Task Force (CTF) 508, today to advance mutual strategy, communications and operations between the two tasks forces conducting anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin. CTF 151, embarked on ROKS Kang Gam Chan, is the counter-piracy task force of Combined Maritime Forces, and CTF 508 is the NATO component embarked on HNLMS de Zeven Provincien. Pirates have adjusted to both the current monsoon conditions in the Somali Basin and the increased naval forces presence in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden forcing them to find targets of opportunity elsewhere, the two CTF commanders agreed. The successful hijacking of M/V Motivator and other thwarted attempts in the southern Red Sea lead to a discussion for the need of increased…
CTF 151 Commander Meets with Djiboutian Defence Minister, Head of Navy
MANAMA, Bahrain – Rear Admiral Beom Rim Lee, Commander, Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, met with the Djiboutian Minister of Defence and the head of the country’s naval forces during a port visit to Djibouti this week. Rear Admiral Lee is embarked on ROKS Kang Gam Chan, CTF-151 flagship. During the meeting with Defence Minister Ougoureh Kifleh Ahmed, the two noted the strategic, geographical, commercial and communications position of Djibouti, and both agreed to continued and increased support of each other’s mission to secure the safe passage of merchant and private vessels through the Gulf of Aden. “Recently, pirates have become active in the southern Red Sea, placing further logistical strain on the international forces focused on deterring and disrupting piracy in the area,” Lee said. “Djibouti’s commitment to provide assistance however and wherever it can, is greatly appreciated by Combined Task Force 151, as I’m sure it is the…