NAVY NEWS KIWI COMMANDER STOPS PIRATE STRIKE
A Royal New Zealand Navy commander who is leading an anti- piracy task force off Somalia has overseen the capture of pirates as they were attempting to attack a merchant ship in late July. Captain James Gilmour is in charge of Task Force 151, one of several forces aimed at deterring piracy in the Gulf of Aden, the Somali basin and part of the southern Red Sea. The others include the European Union Task Force 465. "I speak with their commander every day so we can coordinate our efforts," Captain Gilmour said in an interview with TV3. Maritime patrol aircraft direct the warships to where they are to station patrols and the naval fleets also receive calls from merchant shipping about suspicious activity. The pirate skiff crew, equipped with rocket grenades and AK-47s, fired on the unnamed merchant vessel. Captain Gilmour's flagship, the United States Navy guided missile cruiser USS Anzio, was 36 miles away at the time in the area between Yemen and Somalia. The Anzio was ordered to pursue and intercept the suspected pirate vessel. "The challenge was to head that way as quickly as possible as they made a run for the Somali coast," said Captain Gilmour.
The crew worked with other naval vessels and a Japanese marine patrol aircraft to stop the skiff. The suspected pirates ditched weapons and equipment that could have been used for further piracy attempts.
Captain Gilmour said the pirates failed because the merchant ship maintained a 24-hour lookout, had removed access ladders and used evasive manoeuvres. "This incident is another reminder of how effective these practical precautions are."
Captain Jim Gilmour met with Portuguese Commodore Alberto Correia, Commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta (Task Force 465)
onboard their flagship NRP Vasco Da Gama
Captain Gilmour says the pirates are becoming more sophisticated and adaptive. Five years ago they used small skiffs with one or two outboards and hand-held weapons, and were restricted to within 50 miles of the coast. "They have now formed 'pirate action groups' using pirated dhows, larger vessels, small, local merchant vessels and in some cases even large, pirated merchant ships so they become what we call 'expeditionaries'.
"They are able to get out into the Arabian Sea up to 1000 miles off the Somali coast. They also use cellphones and have an intricate logistical network."
At least 23,000 ships pass through the Gulf of Aden every
year, and it was important to keep the shipping channels open so as much aid as possible could reach Somalia and the Horn of Africa.
VIP.S72 September/October 2011 Professional Skipper 65
