Counter-Piracy Task Force Flagship Hosts Yemen Sea Service Officers

ABOARD USS ANZIO, AT SEA

09.17.2009

Courtesy Story

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

USS ANZIO, At Sea — Commander of Combined Task Force 151, Rear Adm. Scott E Sanders, and Capt. Frank J Olmo, commanding officer of the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio, hosted senior members of the two Yemeni maritime forces aboard the CTF 151 flagship this week. The visit promoted cooperation between the Yemeni Navy, Yemeni Coast Guard and the Combined Maritime Forces.

Aden District commander, Yemen Coast Guard Col. Lofta Al Barati and Aden District commander, Yemen Navy Brigadier Radman Shamsan were flown out to the USS Anzio by one of the ship's SH-60 Seahawk helicopters for their two hour visit.

"Cooperation with the maritime forces in the surrounding countries is critical to the long-term success of our mission" said Sanders. "Having this opportunity to discuss our counter-piracy operation with senior officers from both the Yemen navy and coast guard is a significant step towards stopping piracy" he added.

USS Anzio was patrolling the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor in the Gulf of Aden and moved out of these shipping lanes to launch a helicopter for the ferry flight from Aden. This was the first U.S. helicopter flight into Aden in more than four years.

Captain Keith Blount RN gave the Yemeni officers a brief on the operations of the CTF 151 ships in the region. He stressed the benefits to be gained by all forces in working together. He said "We are able to gain a greater understanding of the usual pattern of life in the Gulf of Aden by speaking to those who see it every day. Only by working together will we win our fight against piracy", a statement that was endorsed by Cmdr. Lofta Al Barati of the Yemen coastguard.

The Yemen officers were shown the medical center aboard USS Anzio which is able to deal with severe gunshot wounds or similar injuries and include an Expeditionary Resuscitation Surgical System. The surgical team is available to deal with some of the most serious injuries and the team demonstrated their response to an injury.

While touring the remainder of USS Anzio, Sanders said, "the turning point has been the willingness by merchant mariners to defend themselves, by the prudent defensive measures that many have adopted." "CTF 151 is here to work with them and support them every step of the way."

CTF 151 is a multinational task force established in January 2009 by the Combined Maritime Forces headquartered in Manama, Bahrain, 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.

The number of military units assigned to the force flow in CTF 151 is constantly changing as ships and aircraft from a variety of countries assign units to the task forces. Nations including the UK, Turkey, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Denmark, Singapore and the U.S. have conducted operations as part of CTF 151.

Piracy off the Horn of Africa is a threat to the security of all nations and requires an international solution. The presence of coalition naval vessels in the region demonstrates our commitment to regional security and stability. To continue to counter and deter piracy successfully, coalition efforts must be complemented by proactive measures by commercial shippers, regional governments, and the international community.

• Date Taken: 09.17.2009
• Date Posted: 09.17.2009 11:51
• Story ID: 38924
• Location: ABOARD USS ANZIO, AT SEA