Counter Piracy

Eye on the Navy

On Jan. 1, 2010, the guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) patrols the Gulf of Aden in support of counter-piracy operations. Chosin is the flagship for Combined Joint Task Force 151, a multinational task force established to conduct counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Edgington/Released)

New Counter-Piracy Task Force

The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) established Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) Jan. 8 specifically for counter-piracy operations. Naval ships and assets from more than 20 nations comprise the Combined Maritime Forces. U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Terence "Terry" McKnight has been named the commander of the new task force which will be fully operational by the middle of January. The CMF created the Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) in the Gulf of Aden in August of 2008 to support

Royal Navy Adm Leads EU Anti-Piracy Ops

According to a report from Defence News, on Dec. 8, the Royal Navy's Rear Admiral Phil Jones took charge of the EU led counter-piracy naval operation, which is to operate off the coast of Somalia. The operation, called Op Atlanta, is the European Union's first naval task force, and it has been assembled to ensure the protection of vessels of the World Food Programme delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia as well as protection to other vulnerable shipping off Somalia and to provide

Pirate Attacks on the Rise off Somalia

Pirate activity has increased recently off the coast of Somalia with four attempted attacks occurring on motor vessels in the Gulf of Aden since Sept. 19. Three separate unsuccessful attacks occurred Sept. 19 and 20, while the most recent attack occurred Sept. 26 on the Panamanian-flagged Motor Vessel Handy V, in which seven pirates were arrested by the Turkish ship TCG Gediz (F-495), assigned to NATO's Piracy Task Force

Piracy – EU Naval Force Extends Mission, Sends Ships

Counter-piracy mission off Somalia to be extended until 2014, France sends two more warships The decision to extend the mission will enable Operation Atalanta Forces to work directly with the Transitional  Federal Government and other Somali entities to support their fight against piracy in the coastal areas.  In accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the Somali government has notified the UN Secretary General of its acceptance of the EU’s offer for

Piracy – Two More Warships Join Task Force

Counter-piracy task force off Horn of Africa joined by warships from Netherlands, Spain The counter-piracy taks force sent by the European Uniion to patrol the waters off the Horn of Africa, has been joined by two additional warships. The Dutch multi-purpose frigate HNLMS Van Amstel has arrived in the area, as well as the Spanish frigate ESPS Reina Sofia. Both ships have helicopters embarked that are capable of searching large areas of sea to look for suspect pirates

Pirating of MV Izumi in the Somali Basin

On the afternoon of 10 October, the owners of the Panama-flagged MV Izumi reported that they had received an automatically released distress signal indicating that the vessel was likely to be under pirate attack. The Danish warship HDMS Esbern Snare of the NATO counter piracy force was dispatched to intercept and investigate. In the early hours of 11 October the captain of the vessel made contact with the Danish warship, stating that pirates were in charge of the MV Izumi.

UK Warships in Multinational Gulf of Oman Exercises

Royal Navy duo in multinational anti-sub exercise Two British warships joined those from the USA, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan - including an old Royal Navy favourite - for the war games in the Gulf of Oman.

 In the seemingly ever-present haze of the Gulf region, a Trafalgar Class submarine (T-boat) and an approximate American counterpart, USS Pittsburgh, led a seven-strong naval task group as the exercise drew to a close.

First Pirate Venture After Monsoon Comes to Watery End

EU Naval Force flagship, 'ITS San Giusto' stopped and later sank a pirate skiff in the Somali Basin after taking off 7 suspect pirates. The EU warship, carrying out counter-piracy patrols as part of Operation Atalanta, sighted the skiff carrying a ladder and up to 20 fuel drums 180 miles east of Socotra and immediately launched its helicopter to investigate.  Once at the scene, the boarding team from San Giusto boarded the vessel and apprehended the men.

Piracy Threat Still a Real Concern Finds SHADE Conference

Piracy, Private Security Companies, & Best Maritime Practice discussed at 27th Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE') conference. Military officers, government officials and trade representatives attended the SHADE conference, hosted by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). The quarterly conference was chaired by CMF in conjunction with NATO and the European Union Naval Forces (EUNAVFOR), and provides a forum for states