The EU NAVFOR Norwegian warship HNOMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN in close cooperation with CTF 151

A meeting of the SHADE Group met in Bahrain on 29 Sept 2009 to discuss practical aspects of counter-piracy off the coast of Somalia.

SHADE was established in December 2008 as a means of sharing ‘best practice’, conduct informal discussions and deconflict the activities of those nations and organisations involved in military counter-piracy operations in the region. Initially, SHADE participation involved the Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain, the European Naval Force EU NAVFOR and NATO but it grew quickly to include many regional nations and other navies operating under independent mandates, such as China, India, Japan and Russia.

SHADE is a voluntary international military group that meets on a monthly basis in Bahrain.  In all, 26 nations were present, along with 3 Coalitions and representatives from industry. This meeting welcomed Ukraine as the newest participant.

A number of good examples of practical coordination at sea were highlighted in the meeting.

• On 24 July the EU NAVFOR Italian warship MAESTRALE with the NATO Turkish warship GEDIZ and the Indian warship GODAVARI worked closely together to deter a possible pirate attack.
• On 22 August, when in a combined action including EU NAVFOR ships, fast rhibs, a helicopter and a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft, a suspected pirate skiff was stopped and disarmed. (-> read more)
• On 26 August EU NAVFOR ship FRIDTJOF NANSEN and a helicopter, in cooperation with a South Korean navy helicopter from CTF 151 responded to an emergency call. (-> read more)
• On Wednesday 26th of August the commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia, Commodore Pieter Bindt RNLN (CTF 465) met with Rear Admiral Scott Sanders USN, Commander of the Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) on board the CTF 151 flagship USS ANZIO (CG68). (-> read more)

The meeting achieved broad consensus on a set of terms of reference, agreed to explore opportunities to coordinate logistics and resources, commissioned further work on improving communications with merchant shipping and campaign effectiveness.

SHADE achievements over the last 9 months include:

• Establishment of an Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden, which was endorsed by IMO in July 2009
• Development of the IRTC Coordination Guide
• Agreement on the utility of a common geographical reference system
• Support for the innovative military communications system MERCURY, which allows all SHADE participants to coordinate together in real time
• Emergence of coordinated focused operations off the coast of Somalia
• Improving coordination with industry
• Command opportunities and assets being shared across SHADE participants – e.g. Singaporean and Turkish commanders operating from US warships

EU NAVFOR warship BREMEN

Late afternoon of Sunday 20^th of September, a Bulk Carrier reported an approach of a skiff while in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor in the Gulf of Aden. On board of the Bulk Carrier a unit of the Yemeni Navy was embarked. On sighting of these military personnel the skiff abandoned the approach and tried to flee as reported by the merchant vessel to the UK Maritime Trade Organization in Bahrain. UKMTO alerted other merchant vessels and the Counter Piracy Forces on MERCURY, the EU introduced common counter piracy communication system.

Thereupon a Japanese P3 reconnaissance aircraft, already on site, reported position information to other Counter Piracy forces. The Australian warship TOOWOOMBA of CTF 151, closest to the skiff, was assisted by the helicopter of the German EU NAVFOR warship FGS BREMEN in stopping the fleeing skiff. On sighting of the helicopter unknown items and a ladder were thrown over the bow of the skiff and all eight persons on the skiff raised their arms awaiting the boarding team of HMAS TOOWOOMBA. During the boarding all piracy related paraphernalia were seized and destroyed. The helicopter of FGS BREMEN continued to secure the area from the air.

This is just one example of the excellent coordination and cooperation between the Counter Piracy Task Forces active in the Gulf of Aden. The use of the common communication system MERCURY proved its utility again.

FGS BREMEN takes part in the EU NAVFOR mission Operation ATALANTA. The main tasks of Operation ATALANTA are to escort merchant vessels carrying food of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), the protection of vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.