Singapore Completes Fourth Command of Multinational Counter-piracy Task Force

Rear-Admiral (RADM) Cheong Kwok Chien (left) handing over the command of CTF 151 to incoming Commander RADM Nam Dong Woo at the Change Of Command Ceremony, in the presence of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, Vice Admiral (VADM) Kevin Donegan.

Singapore has successfully completed its fourth command of the multinational Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, as part of the international counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden (GoA). Rear-Admiral (RADM) Cheong Kwok Chien from the Republic of Singapore Navy handed over command of CTF 151 to RADM Nam Dong Woo of the Republic of Korea Navy earlier today at the Naval Support Activity in Bahrain. The ceremony was witnessed by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), Vice Admiral (VADM) Kevin Donegan, and attended by Singapore's Chief of Staff - Naval Staff, RADM Jackson Chia.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) command team comprised 50 SAF personnel, including three Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen). It also consisted of 12 international officers from Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, United Kingdom and Vietnam. Over the past three months, the SAF Command Team coordinated operations to deter and disrupt piracy in the GoA. It used a fused counter-piracy picture, which was shared with the CMF task forces, regional partners including European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Task Force (TF) 465, and independently deployed navies from China and India. This helped to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of all forces deployed for counter-piracy operations in the gulf.

Beyond overseeing operations of naval ships from Japan, Pakistan, Republic of Korea and Turkey under CTF 151, the command team also engaged independently deployed navies and regional partners such as Djibouti and Oman, to improve operational understanding. To help build capacity, the team also facilitated joint exercises involving CTF 151 and EU NAVFOR TF 465[1] units, as well as conducted a focused operation involving numerous CMF task force units, with information sharing provided by the independently deployed navies. As a result of these collective efforts, there were no piracy attacks in the CTF 151's area of responsibility during Singapore's command tenure.

Highlighting Singapore's commitment towards keeping strategic waterways such as the GoA safe for international trade, RADM Cheong said, "Singapore is a maritime nation with a strong reliance on maritime trade for our nation's prosperity and survivability. We will continue to play our part to ensure freedom of navigation and safety of shipping." Commending Singapore for its contributions to the multinational counter-piracy efforts in the GoA, VADM Kevin Donegan said, "Whether it was improving our relationships with key leaders in the region, overseeing hundreds of hours of airborne surveillance of critical maritime reaches, or keeping the sea lanes of the Gulf of Aden safe while rendering assistance to mariners at risk when needed, Rear Admiral Cheong and his team left an impressive mark on the Combined Maritime Forces." VADM Donegan added that the superb performance by the command team over the past three months demonstrated the professionalism, dedication and commitment of the Republic of Singapore Navy.

This year's deployment marked the 10th SAF deployment to the multinational anti-piracy efforts in the GoA. Since the start of the SAF's contribution to CTF 151 in 2009, Singapore has deployed 1,400 servicemen and women, four SAF command teams, five task groups comprising either a Landing Ship Tank with two Super Puma helicopters or a frigate with an S-70B Seahawk naval helicopter, and one detachment of an F-50 maritime patrol aircraft.

Members of the command team with VADM Donegan (front row, ninth from left), at the Change of Command Ceremony in Bahrain.

Members of the command team briefing RADM Cheong (foreground, seated) on CTF 151's operations, at the command team's headquarters.