HMAS Melbourne joins Combined Task Force to fight piracy

1 December 2010

HMAS Melbourne operates in the company of HMS Montrose as it recovers a Lynx helicopter in the Gulf of Aden.

HMAS Melbourne (Commander Michael Harris) departed Sydney for Operation Slipper Rotation 24 in August 2010.

The upgraded Guided Missile Frigate has been conducting maritime security operations in support of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 against illegal smuggling of weapons, drugs and human trafficking in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO). Now assigned to CTF-151, Melbourne is conducting counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin.

The CTF-151 mission is to conduct counter-piracy operations to actively deter, disrupt and suppress piracy in order to protect global maritime commerce, enhance maritime security and secure freedom of navigation for the benefit of all nations.

CTF-151 Commander, Turkish Navy Rear Admiral (RADM) Sinan Ertugrul said he is delighted that HMAS Melbourne has joined Coalition Maritime Force’s (CMF) counter-piracy mission.

Rear Admiral Ertugrul is responsible for coordinating the CMF counter-piracy operations with those of NATO (TF-508) and the European Union Naval Force (TF-465).

“Over 23,000 vessels pass through the Gulf of Aden each year. Piracy is therefore a very real threat to seafaring nations around the world and one that warrants a truly international response,” RADM Ertugrul said.

In the past three months, the Task Force has included ships from the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States.

“It is a shared commitment and mutually beneficial cooperation enable(ing) us to achieve far more together than we could alone,” RADM Ertugrul said.

As part of the CMF, Melbourne has worked closely with a number of countries including UK, US, French, Thai and Turkish warships. Even Ashes cricket rivalry was put aside for a few hours while Melbourne was in company with HMS Montrose a Type 23 Royal Navy Frigate.

CO HMAS Melbourne, Commander Michael Harris said that the change in operational focus to the counter-piracy mission presented new challenges to Melbourne’s crew which has involved patrolling areas known for pirate activity.

Melbourne has provided an overt presence close to shore from active pirate camps to actively deter piracy and conduct vital reconnaissance missions of areas of high pirate activity. Melbourne has an Enhanced Boarding Team kept at a high level of readiness to respond to acts of piracy.

“The challenge of coordinating operations with assets from many different countries, each with their own unique attributes and capabilities has been a new experience for personnel on Melbourne,” Commander Harris said.

The sharing of information between TF-151, EU and NATO task groups is a complex task with units from countries such as India, China, South Korea and Russia also conducting counter-piracy operations in the region.

The remote location of CTF-151 operations creates unique challenges for ship communications and logistics. Despite there being other coalition units in the area, resupply ports are often a considerable distance from patrol areas. Alternate methods of re-supply have had to be used with Melbourne being provided essential stores required for defect rectification by a RAAF AP-3C air drop.

Commander Harris said that the experience has been extremely valuable in terms of liaison with foreign navies.

“It has enhanced our ability in the efficient pooling of assets and shared information for an operational outcome and given an insight into managing a complex communications and logistics chain,” he said.

HMAS Melbourne is set to return to Sydney in February 2011.

The Enhanced Boarding Part from HMAS Melbourne boards a dhow (a cargo vessel) in the Gulf of Aden in support of operations for Combined Task Force (CTF) 151.

HMAS Melbourne operates in the company of HMS Montrose as part of the Combined Task Force maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden.