SAF takes over command of multinational anti-piracy task force

FOR the third time, Singapore will head Combined Task Force 151, a multinational effort to fight piracy.

The task force will be led by Rear Admiral Giam Hock Koon from the Republic of Singapore Navy. For the next three months, the Singapore Armed Forces will lead and coordinate CTF 151's efforts to deter and disrupt piracy in the Gulf of Aden, which is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen and Somalia.

Said RADM Giam, after taking over command from Commodore Muhammad Hisham of the Pakistan Navy at a ceremony held on Thursday in Bahrain: "As a maritime nation dependent on the sea for our security and economic well-being, Singapore is honoured to play her part and contribute towards the freedom of navigation and safety of shipping at sea."

As part of the command tour, the SAF will also coordinate counter-piracy operations with task forces from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union, as well as navies from other countries.

Since 2009, there have been eight SAF deployments and two other command tours to the Gulf of Aden, in support of the international anti-piracy effort. The SAF's last deployment there was from September to December 2012.

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