Vessel Crews Thwart Pirate Attacks
American Forces Press Service
MANAMA, Bahrain, Oct. 29, 2008 –
Proactive measures taken by masters and crews of targeted commercial
shipping vessels thwarted five piracy attempts yesterday in the Gulf of
Aden, Combined Maritime Forces officials reported.
Even when shots were fired during two of these attacks, officials said,
the crews of commercial shipping vessels conducted evasive maneuvering
and used fire hoses to repel their attackers.
“The
proactive measures taken yesterday by merchant vessels are exactly what
we have been recommending,” said Navy Vice Adm. William E. Gortney,
commander of Combined Maritime Forces. “For slightly more than two
months, the coalition has been working with the commercial shipping
industry and the International Maritime Organization to recommend best
practices and leverage lessons learned to employ reasonable
self-protection measures. These measures range from proactive lookouts
and evasive maneuvering to embarking professional security teams.”
The
Combined Maritime Forces established a maritime security patrol area
Aug. 22 in support of the International Maritime Organization’s call
for international assistance to discourage attacks on commercial
vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden. Since its establishment, coalition
units have deterred more than two dozen attacks, officials said.
“Piracy
is a threat to the security of all nations and requires an
international solution,” Gortney said. “The coalition’s presence is
helping deter destabilizing activity, allowing the shipping industry
time to implement self-protection measures and the international
community to establish a legal framework to hold pirates accountable
for their actions.”
In addition to coalition naval forces,
ships and aircraft from several other nations, including a NATO task
force, are operating in the region. Though no formal agreement exists
between the coalition and other navies, they have been communicating
with each other and sharing information to more effectively patrol the
area, officials said, noting that these additional forces allow
Combined Task Force 150 to more broadly assign assets to conduct
maritime security operations throughout their 2.5 million square mile
operating area.
Maritime security operations complement the
counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to
disrupt violent extremist use of the maritime environment as a venue
for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material,
officials explained. Through training opportunities with regional
partners, they said, Combined Task Force 150 enhances existing
cooperative relationships that aim to support regional countries’
struggles against violent extremism.
(From a Combined Maritime Forces news release.)
Biographies:
Navy Vice Adm. William E. Gortney
Related Sites:
Combined Maritime Forces
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