Members of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, embarked aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97), met with Russian leadership aboard the Russian anti-submarine warfare ship Admiral Tributs, Feb. 19.
The meeting gave the two naval leaders the opportunity to discuss counter-piracy operations and how the two ships could use each other’s resources in a cooperative effort to maintain safety and security in the region’s waterways.
“It is important for us to learn how we can better support each other while operating on the same seas [in the Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean],” said Lt. Mark Gallagher , operations officer aboard Halsey. “This will help both navies improve their maritime missions.”
The Russian Navy’s primary role is to escort convoys of merchant vessels through areas in the Gulf of Aden. The two commanding officers exchanged operational experiences related to counter-piracy, and discussed how they may be able to further work together on counter-piracy operations in the region.
“ It was important for us to meet since we are facing the same challenges on the same seas, ” said Danish Royal Navy Commodore Aage Burr Jensen , commander, CTF-151.
Russian Navy Captain First Rank Ildar Ahmerov , commanding officer, Adm. Tributs, was open to working with CTF-151 and Halsey toward common goals, said Jensen.
The level of cooperation and coordination for the counter-piracy mission has steadily increased in the international community through various forums, including the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) meetings hosted regularly by Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain. At SHADE, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) partners, European Naval Forces, NATO forces, independent deployed maritime forces and the merchant shipping community meet to share their experience, knowledge and coordinate their activities.
Halsey is the flagship for CTF-151, a multinational, mission-based task force working under Combined Maritime Forces. CTF-151 is one of three task forces assigned to combined maritime forces. Established in February 2002, CTF-151 protects and defends the legitimate use of the ocean by fisherman and merchants, and stands ready to assist any mariner in distress.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff , February 27, 2012; Image: navy