Turkish Naval Forces assume command of CTF-151 from Japan

[Neptune]

Turkey assumes command of CTF 151 from Japan

On 27 August 2015 command of Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) passed from the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force under the command of Rear Admiral Hiroshi Ito to Captain Ayhan Bay of the Turkish Navy, who will be promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral on 30 August.


Rear Admiral Ito JMSDF, Vice Admiral Miller USN and Captain Ayhan Bay TN.



The handover marked the completion of Japan’s first time in command of a multi-national task force since the Second World War, as part of Japan’s contribution to international security. Rear Admiral Ito, who has led CTF 151 since 31 May 2015, said: “It has been an honor and a privilege to Command CTF 151. The navy is not a security luxury, but a key component of national power and a symbol of state sovereignty. As such, a naval nation is required to shoulder proportional responsibility as a member of the international community, in order to play an active part in contributing to a better global security environment.”


Rear Admiral Ito addresses the CTF151 CoC ceremony

Rear Admiral Ito will return to Japan to continue his role as Commander, Escort Flotilla 4 Japan Maritime Self Defense Force.


Vice Admiral John Miller, Commander Combined Maritime Forces, presided over the handover and noting the achievements of CTF 151 under Rear Admiral Ito’s leadership, said: “We are here to recognize the accomplishments of Combined Task Force 151 under the leadership of Rear Admiral Hiroshi Ito. They are numerous and they are significant. Admiral Ito, my friend, you and your sailors have demonstrated an enduring commitment to promoting freedom of navigation for all ships in this vital region. This commitment is underscored by the fact that this was the first time in 70 years that Japan has led an international task force. That is historic. The Combined Maritime Forces are so very proud to be part of this important significant moment in your nation’s history. Your perfect performance in command is, I am certain, a matter of great national pride – as well it should be.”


Outgoing members of CTF151 command team

Vice Admiral Miller then highlighted Captain Bay’s career and welcomed him to the Combined Maritime Forces family.


Addressing his predecessor, Captain Bay on taking over command from Rear Admiral Ito, said: “I really would like to take the time here to extend my heartfelt appreciation for a job very well done. You have demonstrated exemplary skills to ensure the continued success of CTF 151. I wish you and your staff a safe trip back home and to your loved ones.”


Rear Admiral Ito JMSDF, Vice Admiral Miller USN and Captain Ayhan Bay TN salute the National anthems at the CTF151 CoC ceremony.

This is the fourth time that Turkey has led CTF 151 and in his speech Captain Bay noted that Turkey has always supported the multi-national force and its mission. Also mentioning that Turkey’s commitment to international peace and support operations follows the principle of ‘Peace at home, peace in the world’ declared by the founder of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. He concluded his speech by saying: “Although there has been a drastic decrease in the number of attacks and hijackings by pirates since 2012, I am mindful of the fact that we cannot become complacent and must keep up the operational tempo against piracy. The units under my command will continue its counter-piracy mission with the same enthusiasm as previous commands in order to safeguard the freedom of navigation in the region.”

Turkey assumes command of CTF 151 from Japan | Combined Maritime Forces

30th August Victory Day celebrations aboard the CTF-151 flagship TCG Gemlik. In which the commander of the fleet, Staff Captain Ayhan Bay's promotion to rear-admirality has been in effect since then.

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Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 celebrated Turkish Armed Forces Day on board the Turkish Navy Flagship TCG Gemlik (F-492) on 30 August. The ceremony was held in the Arabian Sea almost 3000 nautical miles away from home.


Rear Admiral Ayhan Bay congratulating Senior Pilot LT. Gokhan Ozunlu on his new rank.


This was followed by a promotion ceremony. Commander CTF 151 Captain Ayhan Bay was promoted to Rear Admiral, along with 30 officers and petty officers from the crew of TCG Gemlik (F-492) who received their new ranks. According to national law, promotions to a higher rank in the Turkish Armed Forces are conducted every year on 30 August.


CTF 151Chief of Staff Captain Ilker Ozkan congratulating Amphibious/VBSS Team Commander LTJG. Onur Karaman on his promotion.

Currently, Turkish led CTF 151 is conducting counter piracy operations in the Combined Maritime Forces area of operation.

CTF 151 Celebrates Turkish National Day Onboard Flagship TCG Gemlick | Combined Maritime Forces

 

[Osmanovic]

Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) is one of three task forces operated by Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

In accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and in cooperation with non-member forces, CTF-151’s mission is to disrupt piracy and armed robbery at sea and to engage with regional and other partners to build capacity and improve relevant capabilities in order to protect global maritime commerce and secure freedom of navigation.

CTF-151: Counter-piracy | Combined Maritime Forces

 

[Hakan]

An interesting history of somali pirate and why they do what they do:

According to another U.N. report, an estimated $300 million worth of seafood is stolen from the country's coastline each year. "In any context," says Gustavo Carvalho, a London-based researcher with Global Witness, an environmental NGO, "that is a staggering sum."

In the face of this, impoverished Somalis living by the sea have been forced over the years to defend their own fishing expeditions out of ports such as Eyl, Kismayo and Harardhere — all now considered to be pirate dens. Somali fishermen, whose industry was always small-scale, lacked the advanced boats and technologies of their interloping competitors, and also complained of being shot at by foreign fishermen with water cannons and firearms. "The first pirate gangs emerged in the '90s to protect against foreign trawlers," says Peter Lehr, lecturer in terrorism studies at Scotland's University of St. Andrews and editor of Violence at Sea: Piracy in the Age of Global Terrorism. The names of existing pirate fleets, such as the National Volunteer Coastguard of Somalia or Somali Marines, are testament to the pirates' initial motivations.

The waters they sought to protect, says Lehr, were "an El Dorado for fishing fleets of many nations." A 2006 study published in the journal Science predicted that the current rate of commercial fishing would virtually empty the world's oceanic stocks by 2050. Yet, Somalia's seas still offer a particularly fertile patch for tuna, sardines and mackerel, and other lucrative species of seafood, including lobsters and sharks. In other parts of the Indian Ocean region, such as the Persian Gulf, fishermen resort to dynamite and other extreme measures to pull in the kinds of catches that are still in abundance off the Horn of Africa. (Read about illegal wildlife trade.)

Beyond illegal fishing, foreign ships have also long been accused by local fishermen of dumping toxic and nuclear waste off Somalia's shores. A 2005 United Nations Environmental Program report cited uranium radioactive and other hazardous deposits leading to a rash of respiratory ailments and skin diseases breaking out in villages along the Somali coast. According to the U.N., at the time of the report, it cost $2.50 per ton for a European company to dump these types of materials off the Horn of Africa, as opposed to $250 per ton to dispose of them cleanly in Europe.

How Somalia's Fishermen Became Pirates - TIME

There is always another side to the coin, its nice that Turkey actually helps to rebuild somalia.