Coalition forces, operating in the Gulf of Aden as part of Combined Task Force 150, seized approximately 10 tons of narcotics, with an estimated value of $70 million, stashed in vessels operating along the so-called 'Hash Highway.' CTF 150 is a multi-national task force that that conducts Maritime Security Operations in and around the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

Coalition forces, operating in the Gulf of Aden as part of Combined Task Force 150, seized approximately 10 tons of narcotics July 7, with an estimated value of $70 million.

A U.S. Navy maritime patrol aircraft and a British warship located and tracked the vessel in the Gulf of Aden and then the crew from the UK ship boarded the dhow approximately 150 miles southeast of Salalah, Oman. This drug seizure is the largest by coalition naval forces in 2009.

The drugs seized by coalition naval forces could have helped to fund the insurgency fighting coalition forces in Afghanistan as well as contribute to instability in the region.

“The seizure of these drugs takes money out of the hands of those financing terrorists in the region,” said Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, commander, Combined Maritime Forces. “The smugglers need to know that coalition forces are patrolling the seas and skies above. These efforts send a message to all would-be smugglers that we are here and we won’t tolerate drug trafficking in international waters.”

During the boarding, coalition sailors discovered the drugs in vessels operating along the so called ‘Hash Highway’ and destroyed large quantities of narcotics.

CTF 150 forces have seized more than 18 tons of narcotics during 2009, highlighting the continual presence in the region and the commitment to creating and maintaining a lawful maritime order. In 2008, CTF 150 seized more than 53 tons of narcotics.

CTF 150 is a multi-national task force that that conducts Maritime Security Operations in and around the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. The Task Force was created to counter terrorism, prevent smuggling and deter other destabilizing activities to develop security in the maritime environment and create a lawful maritime order.

MSO complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seeks to disrupt violent extremist use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material. Through training opportunities with regional partners, CTF 150 enhances existing cooperative relationships which aim to support regional countries’ struggles against violent extremism.

DVIDS

HOYBYO, Somalia (Sept. 30, 2008) Pirates holding the merchant vessel MV Faina receive supplies Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008 while under observation by a U.S. Navy ship. The Belize-flagged cargo ship is owned and operated by Kaalybe Shipping, Ukraine and is carrying a cargo of Ukrainian T-72 tanks and related equipment. The ship was attacked Sept. 28 and forced to proceed to an anchorage off the Somali Coast. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Eric L. Beauregard)

The U.S. 5th Fleet continues to actively monitor the situation with Motor Vessel Faina, the Belize-flagged cargo ship, which was captured Sept. 25.

San Diego-based destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) is on station and is in visual range of MV Faina, which is anchored off the Somalia coast near the harbor city of Hobyo.

“Howard is on-station,” said Cmdr. Curtis Goodnight, Howard commanding officer. “My crew is actively monitoring the situation, keeping constant watch on the vessel and the waters in the immediate vicinity.”

Two other pirated vessels, MV Capt Stefanos and MV Centauri, are also anchored at this location.

This incident highlights the complexity of the situation in the region. MV Faina is owned and operated by “Kaalybe Shipping Ukraine” and is carrying a cargo of T-72 tanks and related equipment. Its crew is comprised of citizens from Ukraine, Russia and Latvia. There is no indication that the ship had a security team aboard.

Howard is part of the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, which is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to conduct Maritime Security Operations (MSO).

MSO help develop security in the maritime environment. From security arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO complements the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists’ use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

US Navy

Crew members from guided-missile destroyer USS Momsen provided engineering and mechanical assistance to a vessel in distress in the Indian Ocean, June 15.

Momsen received a mayday distress call over the marine band radio and responded.

“It’s every mariner’s responsibility to render assistance to vessels in distress,” said Momsen Commanding Officer Cmdr. Michael Sparks. “Although the initial details of the distress call were unclear, it was obvious the vessel was having problems.”

Rapid response was necessary to locate the dhow and determine if a life-threatening situation existed, said Momsen’s Executive Officer Lt. Cmdr. Scott Carpenter.

“We employed our SH-60B helicopter to conduct a nighttime search to identify the location of the dhow and determine the cause of the emergency,” Carpenter said.

An SH-60B assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light located the vessel approximately 60 miles away from Momsen and identified the distress vessel as Al Ameer, a 50-meter Sambuq dhow, which was transporting more than 700 tons of charcoal.

“Once we spoke with the dhow, we knew they had a loss of propulsion and would require assistance for repairs. They also reported some flooding, but luckily they weren’t in any danger of sinking,” said Carpenter. “Although the vessel’s dewatering pumps were operational, they could only prevent the water from rising, not run effectively enough to dewater the engine room.”

Momsen’s visit, board, search, and seizure team deployed in two rigid hull inflatable boats, or RHIBs, to render assistance.

The dhow’s 16 crew members, welcomed the VBSS boarding team, though they faced a major language challenge.

“No Momsen crew members were fluent in Farsi, Arabic, Indian or Pakistani and no Al Ameer members were fluent in English,” said Ensign Sean Jurgensen, VBSS boarding team
officer. “Despite that difficulty, we were able to make it work and our training and practice paid off. The VBSS team executed perfectly. Everyone already knew what to do.”

Below decks on Al Ameer, VBSS members met with the cargo dhow’s chief engineer, who pointed to each engineering casualty. Once the cause of the flooding was evaluated, a RHIB returned with a P-100 pump which is specifically designed for dewatering during flooding.

“Three of Momsen’s VBSS members have engineering rates, which enabled them to safely align the P-100 pump in Al-Ameer’s bilges and successfully discharge enough water overboard to enable Al Ameer’s discharge pumps to maintain the water level in the bilges well below the equipment,” Jurgensen said.

During the dewatering operation, Al Ameer’s owner made arrangements for the cargo dhow to be towed to safety by a merchant ship. Once the engineering assistance was complete, Momsen’s VBSS team donated drinking water and aspirin to Al Ameer before towing began.

“Rendering assistance to vessels in distress is an obligation of all mariners. I am glad we were available to help Al Ameer and her crew,” Sparks said.

USS Momsen is part of the USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group, which is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of Maritime Security Operations. MSO help develop security in the maritime environment, which promotes stability and global prosperity. These operations complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists’ use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

DVIDS
By Lt.j.g. Courtney Thraen
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command

USS Russell (DDG 59) responded to a vessel in distress between Bossasso, Somalia and the Yemeni coast in the Gulf of Aden June 8.

A Combined Task Force 150 air asset notified Russell of the small boat’s distress call. Russell, operating nearby, proceeded at maximum speed and arrived on-scene to assist the vessel.

The 45-foot small boat experienced serious engine problems leaving it unable to operate at sea and had been adrift for two days.

There were approximately 70 personnel on board the vessel, some of whom were in need of immediate medical attention. Seven personnel were transferred to Russell and treated for severe dehydration and malnutrition. The vessel was also re-provisioned for the night and Russell is towing it towards Somalia where the small boat and patients will be turned over to Somali authorities.

Coalition forces have a longstanding tradition of helping mariners in distress by providing medical assistance, engineering assistance as well as search and rescue.

Russell, deployed as part of the USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group, is operating as part of CTF 150. CTF150 conducts Maritime Security Operations between the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman in the Arabian Sea. MSO help develop security in the maritime environment. From security arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO complements the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists’ use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

DVIDS

Combined Maritime Forces operations in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden, have succeeded in disrupting the transit of contraband, narcotics and alcohol in recent weeks.

As part of Combined Task Force 150, Canadian multi-purpose frigate HMCS Charlottetown, guided missile destroyers USS Winston S. Churchill and USS Carney, Royal Navy frigate HMS Argyll and French frigate FS Guepratte have all worked together in partnership with regional nations to halt criminal activities.

Several seizures of narcotics and alcohol with a street value of over $30 million resulted from these coordinated multi-national maritime operations.

“Coalition efforts build a lawful maritime order for regional security,” said Deputy Combined Maritime Forces Royal Navy Commodore Keith Winstanley. “When we work as a coalition with regional partners, we are able to complement regional countries efforts and really make a difference.”

The most recent interception of contraband occurred, March 12, in the Gulf of Aden by Charlottetown, who stopped illegal smuggling activities conducting Maritime Security Operations.

Charlottetown boarded a dhow and discovered approximately 1.7 tons of hashish worth several million dollars.

The drugs were disposed of at sea and the vessel was held until local authorities arrived.

In February, Combined Maritime Forces ships performed several at-sea rescues of mariners in distress. Feb. 3, Charlottetown rescued two Pakistani mariners adrift on a barge in the North Arabian Sea; Feb. 14, CTF 150 helped coordinate a medical evacuation from a Greek merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden; Feb. 22, USNS Sacagawea responded to a merchant vessel’s request for rescue and medical attention with assistance from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 7, assigned to USS Harry S. Truman and Royal Navy landing ship RFA Cardigan Bay.

Since the Sept. 11 attack, CMF have focused their efforts to disrupt terrorist activities by targeting these criminal activities.

Coalition ships assigned to CTF 150 operate throughout the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Task Force 150 is commanded by French Navy Rear Adm. Jean L. Kerignard.

Maritime Security Operations help set the conditions for security in the maritime environment, which promotes stability and global prosperity. These operations complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists’ use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

DVIDS