Maritime Component Command News

Unknown assailants attacked a gas tanker off the coast of Yemen close to the Bab al-Mandab waterway in the latest flare up in an area through which much of the world's oil passes, shipping and security officials said on Wednesday. The incident, the first attack on a commercial ship since July, followed missile attacks in recent weeks on military craft, including U.S. navy vessels, which were launched from Yemen that had already raised risks for merchant shipping. Shipping group Teekay said its LNG (liquefied natural gas) tanker Galicia Spirit "experienced a suspected piracy attack whilst off the coast of Yemen" on Oct. 25. "No third parties managed to board the vessel during the incident and all crew members are safe and have been accounted for," Teekay said in a statement.

In a ceremony today at Naval Support Activity Capodichino in Naples, Italy, Capt. Richard Soucie assumed command from Capt. James E. Tranoris of Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa, also called MSCEURAF, MSC’s Naples-based office. MSCEURAF is responsible for MSC ships operating in the European and African theaters and is dual-hatted as Commander, Task Force 63, coordinating and providing transportation and delivery of personnel, equipment, fuel, supplies, repair parts, mail and ammunition via air and surface logistics assets to sustain U.S. forces in the European and African theaters. Soucie reports to MSCEURAF from his most recent duty as director of the Plans and Policy Division in the manpower and personnel directorate at U.S. Central Command Headquarters in Tampa, Fla.

NATO’s contribution to international efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa and in the Gulf of Aden entered a new phase on 17 August after the North Atlantic Council (NAC) approved Operation Ocean Shield. This new mission builds on the experience gained during Operation Allied Protector, NATO’s previous counter-piracy mission, and develops a distinctive NATO role based on the broad strength of the Alliance by adopting a more comprehensive approach to counter-piracy efforts.

Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) Chief of Maritime Staff Adm. Eiji Yoshikawa and Japanese Ambassador to Bahrain Takeshi Kondo met with Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT)/Commander U.S. 5th Fleet on July 11. The visit began with a luncheon held at NAVCENT to welcome Yoshikawa and was followed up with a tour of other commands on the installation, such as the Coalition Coordination Center, Combined Forces Maritime Component Command (CFMCC), where the Japanese senior national representative, Cmdr. Kenji Sugahara, works. A Japanese forward-deployed ship for Operation Enduring Freedom, JDS Suzunami (DD 114), assisted in a rescue at sea in the Gulf of Oman on July 12 at the request of Combined Task Force 150.

The U.S. Navy's Expeditionary Strike Group 7 ships left Brisbane, Australia, on June 10, while amphibious ships of Royal Australian Navy began the embarkation of Australian soldiers in northern neighbor Townsville, launching the force integration training (FIT) phase of Talisman Saber 2007 (TS07). TS07 is a joint and combined exercise demonstrating and improving on the U.S.-Australian military alliance that will feature crisis action planning and the execution of contingency response operations in land, sea and air maneuvers. More than 20,000 U.S. and 12,000 Australian personnel will participate in the military training exercise set to enhance interoperability and regional stability.

Sailors from USS Augusta (SSN 710), USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) and aviators from Patrol Squadron (VP) 5 are participating in a National Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-led exercise Noble Manta from April 12-22. The largest joint anti-submarine warfare exercise held annually in the Mediterranean Sea, Noble Manta 2007 involves 10 NATO countries which provide maritime patrol aircraft, surface and subsurface assets. The exercise is in direct support of a Naval Forces Europe/6th Fleet strategic priority of improving maritime security. “This exercise is important because it allows the U.S. and allied partner nations to improve regional maritime security and safety,” said Rear Adm. Jeff Fowler, Commander Submarines, Allied Naval Forces South.