Coalition Counter Piracy Task Force Changes Command

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Aramis Ramirez | Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, commander, Combined Maritime Forces, congratulates Singapore Rear Adm. Bernard Miranda after he assumed command of Combined Task Force 151 in a ceremony held on board USS HOPPER. Miranda relieved Rear Adm. Scott E. Sanders and assumed the task of deterring, disrupting and suppressing piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin in order to protect global maritime security and secure freedom of navigation for the benefit of all nations. (U. S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aramis X. Ramirez)  

MANAMA, BAHRAIN

01.20.2010

Courtesy Story

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet           

MANAMA, Bahrain - Singaporean Navy Rear Adm. Bernard Miranda assumed command of the Coalition counter-piracy unit, Combined Task Force 151, in a ceremony aboard the destroyer USS Hopper while pier-side in Bahrain today. Rear Adm. Miranda relieved U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Scott E. Sanders, who has commanded the counter piracy task force since Aug. 13, 2009. Rear Adm. Miranda will join his flagship, the USS Farragut, in Djibouti next week.

Having patrolled the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin for over 160 days, Rear Admiral Sanders marked the conclusion of a highly successful deployment with today's ceremony. During his tenure in command, CTF-151 helped coordinate the safety of over 15,000 vessels transiting an area of water that covers roughly 1.1 million square miles. In order to accomplish this task, Rear Adm. Sanders and his staff held regular meetings and interactions both Coalition vessels and independent deploying nations such as China and Russia to ensure the most effective use of patrol assets. Testament to the enhanced interaction amongst nations is the fact that CTF -151 and their international partners were able to ensure that less than .001 percent of these transiting ships became victims of the maritime crime of piracy.

Speaking to the importance of international teamwork, Rear Adm. Sanders said, "Our collaboration at sea makes us infinitely stronger in the fight against piracy.Global maritime partnerships are at work each and everyday in the Gulf of Aden."

In today's ceremony, Rear Adm. Miranda assumed command of the deployed staff, which is made up of coalition personnel from a wide variety of nations. During the ceremony, Miranda took the opportunity to thank Rear Adm. Sanders for his leadership, mentorship and friendship over the preceding months. "It is a great honor and privilege for me to be given command of CTF 151," Miranda said. "I will build on the fine work of my predecessors, Rear Admirals McKnight, Howard, Bener and Sanders. I will engage our partners, especially the EU and NATO, in order to make the seas safer."

CTF 151 is a multi-national task force established in January 2009 to conduct counter piracy operations under a mission based mandate to actively deter, disrupt and suppress piracy in order to protect global maritime security and secure freedom of navigation for the benefit of all nations. It operates in the Gulf of Aden and the east coast of Somalia.

CTF 151 has had a significant effect disrupting pirates in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin. Although the number of piracy attempts has increased over the past year, the number of successful attacks has been reduced by 40% over this same time.

"While the main focus of my command remains the mission to deter and disrupt piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin, I will also put emphasis on the readiness and optimization of all assets and the well being of all people involved in the day to day tasks in this mission," said Miranda. "My team and I look forward to being part of the Combined Maritime Forces Headquarters and the USS Farragut."

• Date Taken: 01.20.2010
• Date Posted: 01.20.2010 11:55
• Story ID: 44175
• Location: MANAMA, BH