CTF-151 OUTLINE OF FO ‘KING CRAB’

INTRODUCTION

A CTF 151 led Counter Piracy Focused Operation ‘KING CRAB’, will be conducted from 23rd SEP to 26th SEP 2019. The purpose of this note is to inform military forces (EUNAVFOR, Independent Deployers), regional partners and maritime communities on planned activities in order to help their understanding and to bring about cooperation.
The area of operations will be the Gulf of Aden and Socotra Gap. Also CTF-151 will continue to operate along the northern coast of Somalia, providing opportunities for engagements with merchant communities and local mariners, increasing the understanding on Pattern of Life and exchanging information with partners. And merchant shipping is to be advised that during the period of Operation KING CRAB there will be increased military activities and conduct of Maritime Awareness Calls (MAC).

THE AIM OF OPERATION

Between 23rd to 26th SEP, CTF151 is to deploy increased assets in the focused areas, ENSURING a visible military presence at sea for deterring piracy action, MONITORING suspicious maritime activities involved in piracy, ENGAGING with merchant community for better relationship and reassuring, and UNDERSTANDING regional and local marine activities via POL collection and Friendly Approach.

POINT OF CONTACT

Plans Assistant (roknctf151n51@gmail.com) will act as the main a POC within CTF 151. For partners – military and civilian – interested in any of the outline activities, CTF151 battle watch captain (ctf151.bwo.rokn@gmail.com, +001 1 203 574 6393) will act as points of contact.

Accused Somali pirate hauled before judge in Brooklyn, denied bail

By Reuven Fenton and Natalie O’Neill

An accused pirate who was allegedly part of a Somali crew that kidnapped an American journalist and held him hostage on a hijacked ship while demanding a $20 million bounty was hauled before a federal judge in Brooklyn Wednesday.

Abdi Yusuf Hassan, 51 — who is accused of negotiating the writer’s ransom during his years-long capture — was denied bail while facing six charges, including kidnapping and hostage-taking conspiracy raps, with the judge deeming him too dangerous to be released from the brig.

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Source: nypost.com

Drakensberg now on humanitarian duty in Mozambique

SAS Drakensberg (A301) is steaming up the east coast of southern Africa loaded with a cargo of much-needed humanitarian aid following completion of an Operation Copper anti-piracy mission in the Mozambique Channel.

The humanitarian aid forms part of international support, including from South Africa, to assist in rebuilding cyclone damaged Mozambique. Estimates are Cyclone Idai, which hit Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe in March, caused damage running into billions of dollars, destroying houses, farms, roads and other infrastructure in the process.

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Source: defenceweb.co.za

Counter-Piracy Task Forces work together to deter piracy at sea

Warships from three nations have taken part in a counter-piracy surge operation, led by Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 in the Gulf of Aden. The operation was part of the Republic of Korea-led CTF 151’s mission to deter piracy and to contribute to wider maritime security in the region by focusing shared resources and assets over a prolonged period.

Collaboration between CTF 151, EUNAVFOR’s counter-piracy Task Force and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force ensured maximum response and support to the operation. A Japanese Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft also took part.

The ships ROKS Daejoyeong, ESPS Navarra and JS Asagiri worked together in conducting Maritime Awareness Calls to engage with local mariners and increase their understanding of the Combined Maritime Forces and CTF 151 role.

Captain Andrew Rose, Royal Navy, Deputy Commander of CTF151, said: “Operations such as this help to build partnerships and interoperability among the various stakeholders involved in counter-piracy. It also helps to build friendships and understanding amongst mariners to increase maritime security and suppress piracy.”

The long term aims of counter-piracy stakeholders are to deter and disrupt piracy by working together; to enhance information sharing and to engage with regional partners, the merchant shipping community and local mariners.

Source: combinedmaritimeforces.com

Maritime Union Report on the Dangers Seafarers Face on Ships in the Persian Gulf

First Hand Report on Transiting the Strait of Hormuz in a Merchant Vessel

PERSIAN GULF – As with the case of piracy in the waters off the Somali Coast, nothing brings the realities of dangers at sea whilst transiting the seas in the region like the first-hand accounts of those who have experienced the terrors of passing through the Strait of Hormuz whilst anticipating an attack from armed forces.

With security levels raised by the British government following the seizure of the UK-flagged tanker Stena Impero the focus of the maritime unions has been on the welfare of their members and now Nautilus International, the trade union for maritime professionals, has released the testimony of one of its members, via a report by Helen Kelly, illustrating the circumstances faced by seafarers in the region.

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Source: handyshippingguide.com

Indian Navy signs contract with ISRO for a new military satellite

For the procurement of a new military satellite to ease communications between its warships, aircrafts and shore- based units, the Indian Navy has placed an order with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), for which the launch is likely to happen within a year.

The new missile satellite, named “GSAT 7R”, costs Rs 1,589 crore, inclusive of launch cost and procurement of key infrastructure on ground. The “GSAT 7”, first dedicated Indian military satellite, launched in 2013, is likely to be replaced by the new satellite system.

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Source: newdelhitimes.com

Top official of Sri Lanka’s independent police commission held

COLOMBO: A top official of Sri Lanka’s independent Police Commission was arrested on Thursday for allegedly being involved in a case relating to illegal gun-running and money laundering, the police said…

…The case is related to the alleged illegal transfer of government weapons to Avant Garde, a private firm, from the Sri Lanka Navy. Avant Garde operated a lucrative business of providing sea marshals to protect merchant ships from Somali pirates in the high seas, during former President Mahinda Rajapaksha’s regime.

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Source: newindianexpress.com

Departure of EU naval force risky for coast, report warns

By Samuel Baya

The possible withdrawal of the European Union Naval Force from the Indian Ocean waters has raised the need for other plans to ensure piracy does not rise again in the region, a new maritime report says.

A report by the Intergovernmental Standing Committee on Shipping (ISCOS) says that though piracy has been on the decline, the possibility of a withdrawal of the EU naval force that has been stationed in the Indian Ocean waters for years heralds uncertainty.

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Source: businessdailyafrica.com

Seafarers’ charity calls for increased cooperation to tackle piracy ahead of Sea Sunday

Seafarers’ charity Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) has expressed concern over the effect that piracy continues to have on seafarers’ physical and mental wellbeing, ahead of Sea Sunday on July 14.

The charity has emphasised that seafarers’ safety and pastoral support remains paramount when their ships are targeted or attacked by pirates.

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Source: hellenicshippingnews.com

Supporting Kenya’s coast guard

Senior officials from the newly established Kenya Coast Guard Services are undergoing training on coast guard functions at a national workshop in Mombasa, Kenya (24-28 June).

Fifteen participants are taking part in the training, which is using scenario development methodology and plenary discussions to highlight issues, identify insights and develop deeper understanding of effective ways to meet coastguard functions – with a view to enhancing maritime security in Kenya.

The training is organised by the United Kingdom and IMO, under the auspices of the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct. It is supported by a joint team from the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA), Royal Navy International Defence Training (RNIDT), and facilitated by the British Peace Support Team Africa (BPST(A)) and IMO. Other international partners supporting the implementation of the Djibouti code of Conduct (Japan, Denmark and the International Committee of the Red Cross) are also in attendance and contributing to the discussions.

Source: imo.org