Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs
ABOARD FS GUEPRATTE – The French frigate Guepratte (F 714) is contributing to security and stability in the Gulf of Aden as part of Combined Task Force 150 by querying vessels, monitoring traffic patterns in the busy waterways, and providing an important presence to deter illegal maritime activity.
Guepratte sailors monitor unusual activity, such as the presence of small skiffs around fishing or merchant vessels, as well as providing assistance to regional mariners
"We want people to know we are patrolling. This is a very large are of water and the more mariners know that we're out here, the better," said French navy Cmdr. Francois Moreau, Guepratte's commanding officer.
"We are here to be a deterrent to illegal activities. That is the mission of the coalition, and it is a daily challenge. We are looking for irregular activities on the water that point toward trafficking, piracy and other activities that cause problems for legitimate mariners," said Moreau.
An important element of these maritime security operations is keeping an open flow of communication between coalition warships and merchant vessels operating in the area. "Mariners here share a common threat, and they understand the need to share information. Through information sharing, at sea and during port visits, we are able to piece together bits of information, catch little signals and put the information together to provide a larger background for our operations," Moreau said.
Moreau emphasized that flexibility is crucial to success. "By being flexible and going where we are needed to conduct our mission, we will provide a presence at sea to make it more secure. We want to make the seas a free and safe place for everyone."
Guepratte arrived in the Red Sea Nov. 18 and is part of Combined Task Force 150.
CTF 150 conducts maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
Coalition forces conduct MSO under international maritime conventions to ensure security and safety in international waters so that all commercial shipping can operate freely while transiting the region.
| Date Taken: |
12.04.2007 |
| Date Posted: |
12.04.2007 11:32 |
| Story ID: |
14406 |
| Location: |
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