Maritime Interdiction in North Arabian Sea, 4 December 2020
The guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), deployed to U.S. Fifth Fleet and operating in support of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), interdicted a shipment of more than 2,000lbs (900kgs) of suspected narcotics from a vessel in the international waters of the Arabian Sea, Dec. 4. This seizure, conducted in direct support of CMF’s Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, marks the fourth CMF drugs seizure since October. The narcotics are currently in U.S. custody awaiting analysis. To mitigate the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19, the boarding team undertook carefully executed precautionary measures during and after the boarding, to include decontamination of all seized contraband. Ralph Johnson initially identified a dhow loitering without power in international waters. The ship approached to determine if the dhow required assistance, and a subsequent search discovered the narcotics. CMF is a multinational maritime partnership which exists to counter illicit non-state actors in international…
CMF and EU NAVFOR prepare to host 47th SHADE Conference
CMF, in partnership with EU Naval Forces (EU NAVFOR) will host the 47th SHADE Conference virtually on 3rd-4th November with representatives from across the maritime industry and regional and international militaries. The Shared Awareness and De-confliction Conference (SHADE), is a forum which brings together nations, international organizations and members of the shipping industry who share a common interest in combating piracy and broader maritime security issues. Each year, CMF and EU NAVFOR co-chair the conference, which includes working groups, as well as expert guest speakers discussing issues that affect maritime trade as well as ways to improve cooperation between the interested parties. This year, due to the global health pandemic, the SHADE Conference will be a hybrid event, hosted physically from the CMF Headquarters in Bahrain, and also virtually, via a video link. Alongside workshops with members of the maritime trade industry, senior representatives and flag officers from a variety…
Singapore handover to Korea at CTF 151 Change of Command Ceremony
The Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy has taken command of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 after conducting a handover ceremony with the Republic of Singapore Navy. CTF 151’s principal mission is to suppress piracy in the maritime environment.
Senior British military figure visits CMF HQ
The most senior British military officer visited Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) headquarters in Bahrain this month.
CCTF 151 recognises the contributions of the JMSDF
CCTF 151 Rear Admiral (RAdm) Cheong visited Captain Shinichi Kawabata, the Commander of the Japanese P3 Deployment Air-force for Counter Piracy Enforcement (DAPE), at the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) facility in Djibouti.
DCCMF meets with Korean General
Commodore (Cdre) William Warrender RN, the Deputy Commander of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), welcomed Brigadier General Park Cheol-kyun of the Korean Ministry of National Defence to CMF Headquarters.
CCTF 151 meets with the Djibouti Navy
Commander Combined Task Force (CCTF) 151, Rear Admiral (Radm) Ken Cheong visited the Head of the Djibouti Navy, Colonel Abdourahman Aden Cher, at the Headquarters of the National Marines of Djibouti, as part of a series of Key Leadership Engagement visits to regional partners and units of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).
CMF scores another huge win against drug traffickers
The Royal Navy’s HMS Defender has seized over a metric tonne of high grade hashish being trafficked across the Indian Ocean yesterday.
CCTF 151 meets the Chinese Navy
Commander Combined Task Force (CCTF) 151 Rear Admiral (Radm) Ken Cheong visited the Chinese Naval Ship (CNS) Xiang Tan in Djibouti.
Combined Maritime Forces enjoys further success
Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) has made four more seizures of heroin as part of its ongoing, successful campaign to combat illicit activities in the Indian Ocean, Red Sea and Arabian Gulf.