Singapore Takes Over Command of Multinational Counter-Piracy Task Force for Third Time

RADM Giam Hock Koon (right) being congratulated by CDRE Muhammad Hisham (left), the outgoing Commander CTF 151 at the change-of-command ceremony in the presence of Deputy Commander, Combined Maritime Forces, CDRE Simon Ancona (centre).

Singapore took over command of the multinational counter-piracy task force, Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, in a ceremony held this morning at the Naval Support Activity, Bahrain. The ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Commander, Combined Maritime Forces, Commodore (CDRE) Simon Ancona, and attended by Singapore's Chief of Navy Rear Admiral (RADM) Ng Chee Peng.

Led by RADM Giam Hock Koon from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) command team will lead and coordinate CTF 151's efforts to deter and disrupt piracy in the Gulf of Aden (GoA) over the next three months. It will also coordinate counter-piracy operations with task forces from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union, as well as with navies from other countries. The SAF command team comprises 28 SAF personnel and six international officers from Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Australia and the Republic of Korea.

After taking over command from CDRE Muhammad Hisham from the Pakistan Navy, RADM Giam said, "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."

This is the third command tour undertaken by the SAF, and the eighth SAF deployment to the GoA in support of the international counter-piracy effort since 2009. The SAF's last deployment, from September to December 2012, comprised an RSN Formidable-class frigate (RSS Intrepid), and a Republic of Singapore Air Force Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk naval helicopter.